International Dimensions of Authoritarian Persistence in the MENA Region: Revisiting US Foreign Aid to Egypt in the post-2011 Arab Uprisings Era

Abstract

The majority of studies that examine political liberalization and democratization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region concentrate on internal factors such as Islamic or patriarchal culture, oil rents, socio-economic structures and patrimonialism. This article argues instead that external factors under the cloak of aid represent one of the main dynamics impeding democratic transformation in the region, and precisely supports authoritarian regime consolidation. In this regard, Egypt can be described as a case of authoritarian stability in the post-2011 Arab Uprisings era in which politics and stability rather than democratization and/ or development agenda have become the main motive behind donor decisions hitherto. In this article, Egypt has been selected as a case study to illuminate how the increased hopes and dividends of democratic transition from the Arab Uprisings can swiftly turn into upholding authoritarian rule.

Keywords

MENA region, Arab Uprisings, Egypt, US Foreign Aid, Authoritarianism

Citation

Eman Ratrout and Nur Köprülü, “International Dimensions of Authoritarian Persistence in the MENA Region: Revisiting US Foreign Aid to Egypt in the post-2011 Arab Uprisings Era”, Uluslararasi Iliskiler, Vol. 19, No 75, pp. 45-63, DOI: 10.33458/uidergisi.1163569

Affiliations

• Eman RATROUT, PhD Candidate, Near East University, PhD Programme of Political Science and International Relations
• Nur KÖPRÜLÜ, Professor, Near East University, Department of Political Science