Publication

This monograph looks at the political origins and dynamics of "liberalized autocracy" in the Arab world. The author argues that the mix of control and openness has benefited not only ruling elites, but opposition movements by providing room to criticize regimes and occasionally affect public policy. The paper suggests that liberalized autocracy provides an umbrella system in which competing groups can achieve peaceful coexistence despite the absence of consensus on national identity and because no single group actually wields power.