Why we should still push for Arab reform

While the recent collapse of political order in the Arab World calls for short term security politics, Europe has a long-term interest in remaining steadfast in its push for political reform.

In a new DIIS report, Rasmus Alenius Boserup and Jakob Wichmann explore the trajectory of the collapse of political order in the Arab World after the uprisings of 2011 and provide a series of general pointers for Western and Arab policy makers. Providing empirical evidence from a host of Arab countries including Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Libya and Iraq, the report identifies the contours of a new hybrid in Arab authoritarian governance – “Unstable Authoritarianism” – and provides a series of reflections about the possible policy responses this should be met with.

A central point in the report is that while the current instability and reshaping of authoritarian governance in the region legitimately calls for anti-terrorism and security politics, the long-term development of an alternative governance model remains pivotal for Europe’s long-term security concerns.