The Communitarian Arab State

Abstract

Contemporary Arab politics have been overwhelmed by communitarian divisions that are polarized along sectarian, ethnic, and tribal lines. The latest rise of violent communitarian conflicts in the Middle East, such as those in Syria between Sunni and Alawi communities, raises the question of whether nation-states can remain viable in their current structures or if major changes are required. The response to this question is directly tied to post-Arab Spring politics in which political reforms inspired by liberal views appear to have failed to produce progressive changes. The lack of state legitimacy and appropriate power sharing in governance are key causes of this democratic failure ...