Civil Society and Democratization in the Arab World - 9781138780224

Taylor & Francis

Civil Society and Democratization in the Arab WorldThe Dynamics of Activism\nAuthor(s): Francesco Cavatorta, Vincent Durac\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Routledge\nISBN-13: 9781138780224, 978-1138780224\nSynopsis\nThe transition paradigm has traditionally viewed civil society activism as an essential condition for the establishment of democracy. The democracy promotion strategies of Western policy-makers have, therefore, been based on strengthening civil society in authoritarian settings in order to support the development of social capital -to challenge undemocratic regimes.\n\nThis book questions the validity of the link between an active associational life and democratization. It examines civil society in the Arab world in order to illustrate how authoritarian constraints structure civil society dynamics in the region in ways that hinder transition to democracy. Building on innovative theoretical work and drawing on empirical dat.