MENA vs Democracy

Bellin argues that MENA states resist democratic reform for four main reasons. First, civil society is weak in MENA and therefore is in effective at advocating for democracy. Secondly, the majority of the economy falls in the hands of the state. Attempts to structurally adjust the economy have failed because a large portion of the GNP and employment come from the public sector. The third reason MENA states are unable to become democratic is because of poverty in MENA states. People are very poor, literacy rates are extremely low, and inequality is universal. Fourth, the region is geographically very far from the epicenter of democratization. And she argues when all else fails there is always the explanation of culture and religion playing a big role on the MENA regions efforts to be democratic.

I think that after the Arab Revolts in 2011, Bellin’s arguments still hold true. Although the Arab Revolts added to the conversation in democratization it didn’t change the conversation. Meaning that many MENA states are still not considered free and democratic. Those states that were able to create a democracy, struggle to maintain it because of corruption and instability. This would suggest that Bellin’s arguments are still relevant. I think her argument has an exception to the rule is in the case of Tunisia and Egypt, the center of two revolutions. I think their revolutions can be credited to the strong presence of civil societies. It is because of the heavy presence of civil society groups that ideas were able to spread quickly and effectively. Bellin argues that the reason democracy can’t survive in MENA is because of small amount of civil society activists. But I think the two instances where citizens specifically revolted against their government can be credited to a strong civil society presence. It’s hard to categorize a entire region based on one overarching argument but her ideas seem to still hold true because MENA is the least democratic region in the world.