This paper examines the dynamics behind divergent paths of democratization or democratic transiti... more This paper examines the dynamics behind divergent paths of democratization or democratic transition in neo-patrimonial authoritarian regimes. Here, I compare the two Arab countries, Libya and Syria which are affected by the Arab revolutionary movements in 2011-2012 period but diverge considerably in their paths after the "Arab Spring" has spread in their masses. From the recent literature, it can be understood that the prevailing economic grievances, social exclusion or the power of mass mobilization during protests alone can not explain the difference in paths of democratization/transition in Arab countries. Rather, the effect of the presence of a unified and moderately controlled opposition in Libya and Syria is examined. I hypothesize that the successful organization of transition councils under moderate control did pave the way to democratization in the former case, but failed or is failing in the latter.
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Papers by Dila Gurses