Stephen J. King is Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University. He is author of Liberalization against Democracy: The Local Politics of Economic Reform in Tunisia (IUP, 2003).

• Acknowledgments1. Political Openings and the Transformation of Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa2. Sustaining Authoritarianism during the Third Wave of Democracy3. The Old Authoritarianism4. The New Authoritarianism5. Political Openings without Patronage-Based Privatization and Single-Party Institutional Legacies6. Transitions from the New MENA Authoritarianism to Democracy?NotesBibliographyIndex

"Throws a new cast on Arab political systems and particularly on democratization and privatization."—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University"This is another, very worthwhile, study in a slowly growing field of work trying to explain the persistence of authoritarian rule in the Arab world . . .86:5, 2010"—International Affairs"This book sets itself apart from other political science research by adopting a critical, evidence-based and systematic approach in analyzing how economic reforms have made authoritarianism stronger in the region, counter to popular beliefs."—Journal of International Affairs"[T]his book is important for our understanding of authoritarian persistence, the political economy of economic liberalization and the current breakdown of authoritarian upgrading in the Middle East.June 2012"—Perspectives on Politics"The book is well written, well-researched and ably constructed. It reads well, follows a clear and consistently logical structure, and draws on a rich variety of sources. . . . In general, the author's arguments are fair, responsible and balanced—no mean feat when dealing with issues as complex and sensitive as authoritarianism versus democracy in the Arab world. 2011"—Bustan: Middle East Book Review

Stephen J. King is Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University. He is author of Liberalization against Democracy: The Local Politics of Economic Reform in Tunisia (IUP, 2003).

• Acknowledgments1. Political Openings and the Transformation of Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa2. Sustaining Authoritarianism during the Third Wave of Democracy3. The Old Authoritarianism4. The New Authoritarianism5. Political Openings without Patronage-Based Privatization and Single-Party Institutional Legacies6. Transitions from the New MENA Authoritarianism to Democracy?NotesBibliographyIndex

"Throws a new cast on Arab political systems and particularly on democratization and privatization."—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University"This is another, very worthwhile, study in a slowly growing field of work trying to explain the persistence of authoritarian rule in the Arab world . . .86:5, 2010"—International Affairs"This book sets itself apart from other political science research by adopting a critical, evidence-based and systematic approach in analyzing how economic reforms have made authoritarianism stronger in the region, counter to popular beliefs."—Journal of International Affairs"[T]his book is important for our understanding of authoritarian persistence, the political economy of economic liberalization and the current breakdown of authoritarian upgrading in the Middle East.June 2012"—Perspectives on Politics"The book is well written, well-researched and ably constructed. It reads well, follows a clear and consistently logical structure, and draws on a rich variety of sources. . . . In general, the author's arguments are fair, responsible and balanced—no mean feat when dealing with issues as complex and sensitive as authoritarianism versus democracy in the Arab world. 2011"—Bustan: Middle East Book Review

Stephen J. King is Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University. He is author of Liberalization against Democracy: The Local Politics of Economic Reform in Tunisia (IUP, 2003).

• Acknowledgments1. Political Openings and the Transformation of Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa2. Sustaining Authoritarianism during the Third Wave of Democracy3. The Old Authoritarianism4. The New Authoritarianism5. Political Openings without Patronage-Based Privatization and Single-Party Institutional Legacies6. Transitions from the New MENA Authoritarianism to Democracy?NotesBibliographyIndex

"Throws a new cast on Arab political systems and particularly on democratization and privatization."—I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University"This is another, very worthwhile, study in a slowly growing field of work trying to explain the persistence of authoritarian rule in the Arab world . . .86:5, 2010"—International Affairs"This book sets itself apart from other political science research by adopting a critical, evidence-based and systematic approach in analyzing how economic reforms have made authoritarianism stronger in the region, counter to popular beliefs."—Journal of International Affairs"[T]his book is important for our understanding of authoritarian persistence, the political economy of economic liberalization and the current breakdown of authoritarian upgrading in the Middle East.June 2012"—Perspectives on Politics"The book is well written, well-researched and ably constructed. It reads well, follows a clear and consistently logical structure, and draws on a rich variety of sources. . . . In general, the author's arguments are fair, responsible and balanced—no mean feat when dealing with issues as complex and sensitive as authoritarianism versus democracy in the Arab world. 2011"—Bustan: Middle East Book Review