Source: Washington

Getting to Pluralism: Political Actors in the Arab World explores the balance of power between the disparate political forces of the Arab world. The essays in this volume examine the characteristics of the major political actors in great detail and assess the weaknesses of the secular parties. They also illustrate the complexities of Islamist participation in the political processes of several Arab countries—pointing out both similarities and differences. Finally, the authors evaluate how incumbent Arab regimes have been able to maintain their grip on power in spite of their claims that they support political and social reform.

Included in this volume:

• Marina Ottaway and Amr Hamzawy:
  • Pluralist Politics in Undemocratic Political Systems
  • Fighting on Two Fronts: Secular Parties in the Arab World
     
• Michele Dunne and Marina Ottaway:
  • Incumbent Regimes and the “King’s Dilemma” in the Arab World: Promise and Threat of Managed Reform
     
• Amr Hamzawy and Marina Ottaway:
  • Islamists in Politics: The Dynamics of Participation
  • Old Actors and New Arenas

Advance Praise

"A first-rate think tank should produce work whose conclusions are directly useful to policy makers with insights equally valuable to scholars. This volume more than meets that test."
—Jessica T. Mathews, President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace