Adham Khorshed/Demotix. All rights reserved.
Considering the current state of Arab political order—ravaged by years of civil war, revolution, and political unrest—the ability of the current elites to remain in power seems to be counterintuitive.
The use of overwhelming physical force, along with the rhetoric of the “war on terror” and the rise of Islamist extremist groups, seem to be the main tactics used by Arab autocrats to regain their grip on power. The rise of these groups has provided them with the ideological justification for repression as well as a solid support base, particularly among urban middle classes and minority groups.
