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Chapter 12 The functions of parties in the MENA: The state perspective

From irrelevance to punching bag?
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De Gruyter Handbook of Political Parties of the Global South
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Political Parties of the Global South

Abstract

Since independence, authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa have had a relatively clear view of the functions of political parties. Political parties were considered divisive institutions that would undermine the development of the country, whose resources only the state could mobilize unhindered from the squabbling of different parties. It is for this reason that authoritarian regimes set up a single party, whose role was to be a transmission belt for the regime into society as well as a recruiting instrument into the elites. The “upgrading of authoritarianism” called for the introduction of multiparty politics and regimes therefore allowed the arrival of political parties on the scene provide that they played the role of “loyal opposition”. It is only in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Uprisings that parties acquired much greater significance and, for a period were able to operate autonomously from the state. This did not last long, and the functions parties played in democratic settings ended quickly as the enthusiasm for the Uprisings evaporated and authoritarian control was reasserted. In the contemporary Middle East, regimes have now turned parties into “punching bags”, blaming them or all the ills of the political system. This chapter provides an overview of the relationship between the state and parties since independence, examining the functions of single parties, the relegation of other parties to the margins — whether as loyal opposition or as enemies of national unity — and their post-Uprisings’ role as unsound corrupt institutions blamed for the current political and economic crisis.

Abstract

Since independence, authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa have had a relatively clear view of the functions of political parties. Political parties were considered divisive institutions that would undermine the development of the country, whose resources only the state could mobilize unhindered from the squabbling of different parties. It is for this reason that authoritarian regimes set up a single party, whose role was to be a transmission belt for the regime into society as well as a recruiting instrument into the elites. The “upgrading of authoritarianism” called for the introduction of multiparty politics and regimes therefore allowed the arrival of political parties on the scene provide that they played the role of “loyal opposition”. It is only in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Uprisings that parties acquired much greater significance and, for a period were able to operate autonomously from the state. This did not last long, and the functions parties played in democratic settings ended quickly as the enthusiasm for the Uprisings evaporated and authoritarian control was reasserted. In the contemporary Middle East, regimes have now turned parties into “punching bags”, blaming them or all the ills of the political system. This chapter provides an overview of the relationship between the state and parties since independence, examining the functions of single parties, the relegation of other parties to the margins — whether as loyal opposition or as enemies of national unity — and their post-Uprisings’ role as unsound corrupt institutions blamed for the current political and economic crisis.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Dedication V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Preface to Political Parties in the Global South XI
  5. Chapter 1 Political parties. What are they and how do we study them? 1
  6. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South
  7. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South 27
  8. Chapter 2 The origins of contemporary political parties in Latin America (1990–2020) 37
  9. Chapter 3 The economics of political development: Party politics in Jamaica 57
  10. Chapter 4 Making sense of Arab political parties’ origins: Secular groups and nationalism 89
  11. Chapter 5 The origins of today’s political parties in Africa 119
  12. Chapter 6 The party systems of Central Asia 137
  13. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South
  14. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South 153
  15. Chapter 7 Dynamics of Islamist party trajectories in Egypt and Tunisia after the Arab Uprisings: Between ideational and structural materialist approaches 165
  16. Chapter 8 Party organization and finance in the MENA region 185
  17. Chapter 9 The price of the party: How finance shapes political organization in sub-Saharan Africa 207
  18. Chapter 10 Regime types, party politics and political finance in Southeast Asia 221
  19. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives
  20. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives 239
  21. Chapter 11 Political parties’ functions in Latin America: Assessing the gap between expectations and reality 249
  22. Chapter 12 The functions of parties in the MENA: The state perspective 275
  23. Chapter 13 Functions of political parties in Southeast Asia: A regime perspective 289
  24. Chapter 14 Anti-party and apartisan attitudes in Southeast Asia: On ordinary citizens, political parties and leadership 311
  25. Part IV: Parties and society
  26. Part IV: Parties and society 341
  27. Chapter 15 African political parties: A citizens’ perspective 353
  28. Chapter 16 The intersection of traditional cleavages and post-materialist values in the Middle East and North Africa 377
  29. Chapter 17 The roles and prospects of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance: Voices from the Malaysian youth 397
  30. Chapter 18 The influence of Islamists in Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN) 419
  31. Conclusion and perspectives
  32. Chapter 19 Political parties: Perspectives from the Global South 439
  33. Contributors
  34. Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111170015-015

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Dedication V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Preface to Political Parties in the Global South XI
  5. Chapter 1 Political parties. What are they and how do we study them? 1
  6. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South
  7. Part I: The origins of today’s political parties in the Global South 27
  8. Chapter 2 The origins of contemporary political parties in Latin America (1990–2020) 37
  9. Chapter 3 The economics of political development: Party politics in Jamaica 57
  10. Chapter 4 Making sense of Arab political parties’ origins: Secular groups and nationalism 89
  11. Chapter 5 The origins of today’s political parties in Africa 119
  12. Chapter 6 The party systems of Central Asia 137
  13. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South
  14. Part II: Party organization and finance in the Global South 153
  15. Chapter 7 Dynamics of Islamist party trajectories in Egypt and Tunisia after the Arab Uprisings: Between ideational and structural materialist approaches 165
  16. Chapter 8 Party organization and finance in the MENA region 185
  17. Chapter 9 The price of the party: How finance shapes political organization in sub-Saharan Africa 207
  18. Chapter 10 Regime types, party politics and political finance in Southeast Asia 221
  19. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives
  20. Part III: The functions of parties in the Global South: State and citizen perspectives 239
  21. Chapter 11 Political parties’ functions in Latin America: Assessing the gap between expectations and reality 249
  22. Chapter 12 The functions of parties in the MENA: The state perspective 275
  23. Chapter 13 Functions of political parties in Southeast Asia: A regime perspective 289
  24. Chapter 14 Anti-party and apartisan attitudes in Southeast Asia: On ordinary citizens, political parties and leadership 311
  25. Part IV: Parties and society
  26. Part IV: Parties and society 341
  27. Chapter 15 African political parties: A citizens’ perspective 353
  28. Chapter 16 The intersection of traditional cleavages and post-materialist values in the Middle East and North Africa 377
  29. Chapter 17 The roles and prospects of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance: Voices from the Malaysian youth 397
  30. Chapter 18 The influence of Islamists in Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN) 419
  31. Conclusion and perspectives
  32. Chapter 19 Political parties: Perspectives from the Global South 439
  33. Contributors
  34. Index
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