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Abstract

The Arab uprisings marked a new, large-scale phase of contentious politics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Entrenched authoritarian rulers were ousted from power in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, and citizens across the region discovered the power of mass mobilization and became increasingly vocal in demanding their rights. The period of flux that ensued appeared to be a “critical juncture” (Collier and Collier 1991, Capoccia and Keleman 2007, Mahoney 2000) in which the potential for regime change was heightened. Watching the uprisings and subsequent struggles over institution-building unfold in real time raises questions about the conditions under which democratic reform can emerge in the region.

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Cammett, M. (2016). Transition Experiences and Relevant Lessons. In: Diwan, I., Galal, A. (eds) The Middle East Economies in Times of Transition. International Economic Association Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-52977-0_12

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