The paradox of good governance under authoritarian regimes. (c2010)

Abstract

As the third wave of democratization recedes, many authoritarian regimes persist in the Middle East. These regimes have survived despite all calls for good governance, democracy and political liberalization from the international community. This thesis examines the paradox of good governance under authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, arguing that although the last two decades did witness timid political reforms in the region, these reforms were only introduced to reassert authoritarian control. The thesis reviews critically the literature on good governance and authoritarian persistence. It explores the main indicators used to measure good governance, focusing especially on the role of elections in examining the survival, durability and reproduction of authoritarianism in Tunisia and Egypt. These regimes have deployed elections, often assumed as a prerequisite for achieving good governance and an important stepping stone towards political pluralism, as a tool to tighten their hold on power and preserve authoritarianism. Despite the existence of opposition parties and the holding of regular elections in both Egypt and Tunisia, political power remains firmly concentrated in the hands of Mubarak and Ben Ali and their respective parties. In these regimes, the manipulation of elections and thus the dominance of a single ruling party play an important role in sustaining authoritarian regimes and reproducing their power. The timid reform measures introduced by both regimes have proven to be largely ineffective and have not altered Egypt's and Tunisia's political landscapes. Finally, this thesis contends that while initiatives for good governance and democracy are multiplying in the Middle East, and especially in the two explored countries, authoritarianism will survive unchallenged for years to come.