State formation 1973-2011 Flashcards
(65 cards)
What was the policy of infitah?
An Egyptian economic liberalising policy announced by President Sadat in 1974
What export did Arab countries continue to benefit off in the 70s and 80s?
Oil
What did the Infitah aim to do?
Increase the efficiency of the Egyptian public sector and revitalise the private sector. Encourage foreign investment from the Gulf States.
Outcomes of early stages of liberalisation
Growth in unemployment. Increased polarisation of income between rich and poor. Cutting of subsidies and price riots.
Hinnebusch on what caused trend towards liberalisation to intensify
The increase on authoritarian control that was needed to contain the Muslim brothers in the 70s and 80s.
Why was there an encouragement of the Iraqi private sector in the 80s?
Private capital had been destroyed by nationalisations of the 60s. The war with Iran caused shortages of food and necessities.
Why did Jordan not liberalise to the same extent as the rest of the region?
Government bureaucrats were worried about losing power and control.
What was the economic structure of the Gulf States?
They had open economies. Near monopoly on oil reserves which would be distributed to achieve maximum support. Few taxes necessary and free services could be provided.
How did Sadat initially conceive of the Egyptian state?
He wanted to refashion it as a vehicle for mobilising regime support for multi-party elections. Created three party system and elections followed in 1976.
Egyptian Party Law of 1977
Specified any new party would have to accept principles of constitution. Meant all parties represented similar beliefs and that the people were disenfranchised.
What accounts for poor opposition performance in the 1995 Egyptian election?
Weakness of the opposition parties, inability to present candidates for seats, regime interference.
How did the Ba’th come to power in Iraq?
A military coup in 1963. They then had to use repression to maintain political base and institutionalised their role.
What groups were parties in Lebanon linked to?
Some represented local confessional communities, others had close links with Arab parties or regimes.
Where has electoral democracy survived best in the region?
best where it played a role in mediating communal relations (Lebanon), or as part of the ruling family’s strategy for standing above a process of party competition (Jordan, Morocco).
Who the long-time presidents of the Middle East in 2010?
Muammar Gaddafi, Ali Abdullah Saleh of North Yemen, Hosni Mubarak, Zein El Abidine Ben Ali, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Assad had passed power onto his son.
What were the central priorities of monarchical presidential regimes?
Smooth succession of power and legitimation of the regime.
What was the general structure of Arab societies after colonisation and why?
Presidents accumulated power by surrounding themselves by men they felt they could trust to manage a large bureaucracy and intelligence services. People thus became subordinate to the states, the state to the party and the party to its leader. The huge economic and social problems had left behind figures who were this power hungry.
What mechanisms were used to legitimate regimes?
The governing party, the constitution, the practice of regular elections, presence of human rights organisations.
What was the general role of the army?
They were the ultimate source of domestic protection. Also employed large proportion of the youth.
What was the intended role of crony capitalists?
To create heavy industry, major public projects, better health, education and welfare systems
How did increasing privatisation cause wealth inequality?
Sales were made very cheaply which had a huge impact on state finances.
What was the role of election management in the regimes?
In order to produce tame opposition. They would decide which parties would be allowed to stand against the regime. This usually excluded parties based on religion, class, regional loyalties or foreign associations.
What was the point of ‘elections without choices’?
To allocate resources, manage members of party, test public opinion, allow for small scope of competition.
What two major events caused a change in the ruling style of Saddam Hussein
The Iran-Iraq war, which he presented as a victory led to him leading in a more confident and arrogant manner. The Gulf War of 1991 led to him becoming more reclusive and paranoid.
