Abstract
Studies that examine global determinants of democracy mainly focus on factors such as global conflict, strength of global community, international organizations and the impact of democratic neighbors. This paper logically extends the global approach by considering the impact of global power shifts on democratization in the Middle East. In this paper, it is argued that global uncertainty raised by power shifts in the system is likely to impact authoritarian elite behavior leading to their concession to share political power. This article specifies the assumptions, hypothesis and the causal mechanism through which power shifts might impact democracy in the Middle East. To test the hypothesis, this article uses cross-country panel data and fixed effects GLS regression models on 878 observations, 20 countries ranging from 1815 until 2004. To clarify the argument, examples of democratization process in Iran and Turkey as well as recent 2011 Middle East uprisings are also discussed as illustrative evidence. The results support the argument that global power transfers have short term and long term impacts on democratization in the Middle East.
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©2016 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- MERCOSUR and the Brazilian Leadership Challenge in the Era of Chinese Growth: A Uruguayan Foreign Policy Perspective
- Global Power Movements, Uncertainty and Democracy in the Middle East
- Review Essay
- Frank Ninkovich: The Global Republic: America’s Inadvertent Rise to World Power / Henry Kissinger: World Order
- David Milne: Worldmaking: The Art and Science of American Diplomacy
- Documentation
- Mismeasuring Humanity: Examining Indicators Through a Critical Global Studies Perspective
- Book Reviews
- Randall L. Schweller: Maxwell’s Demon and the Golden Apple: Global Discord in the New Millennium
- Gordon Chang: Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation with China
- Charles S. Maier: Leviathan 2.0: Inventing Modern Statehood
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- MERCOSUR and the Brazilian Leadership Challenge in the Era of Chinese Growth: A Uruguayan Foreign Policy Perspective
- Global Power Movements, Uncertainty and Democracy in the Middle East
- Review Essay
- Frank Ninkovich: The Global Republic: America’s Inadvertent Rise to World Power / Henry Kissinger: World Order
- David Milne: Worldmaking: The Art and Science of American Diplomacy
- Documentation
- Mismeasuring Humanity: Examining Indicators Through a Critical Global Studies Perspective
- Book Reviews
- Randall L. Schweller: Maxwell’s Demon and the Golden Apple: Global Discord in the New Millennium
- Gordon Chang: Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation with China
- Charles S. Maier: Leviathan 2.0: Inventing Modern Statehood