Electoral Process in Arab Countries (2011–2021): Specifics, Results, Political Activity and the Role of Youth

Affiliation: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Novaia i noveishaia istoriia

Edition

Issue 1

Pages

194-208

Abstract

After 2011, the intra-political struggle in the Arab countries continues to evolve amidst the competition between and mutual influence of Islamism (fundamentalism) and nationalism (liberalism), yet in the midst of a crisis of both, when parties based on one of these two ideologies are no longer able to offer their voters concrete programmes of socio-political modernisation and overcoming the economic crisis. In terms of ideology, different parties use identical slogans in their election campaigns, exploiting the reformist strategy and arguments, seeking to expand their social base in the absence of public consensus.

New constitutions and electoral laws adopted after 2011 have transferred this struggle into a legal frame, creating conditions for political competition. The elections really became a multi-party event and allowed Islamic parties to participate in the political process along with secular parties. Exactly these parties became the main rivals in the electoral process of the last decade, which demonstrated that the implementation of the constitutional plan in practice is an ambiguous task, and society (despite the establishment of a new system of legal arrangements) continues to be split and cannot give preference to any ideology and the forces representing such ideologies.

The “external factor” contributed to the strengthening of Islamic parties in the first electoral cycle after the “Arab Spring”, however, later the preference was given to secular parties. Young people, having actively shown themselves in the unrest of 2011, lost interest in political life, which is evidenced by the fall in voter turnout in the second and third electoral cycles.

Dynamics and results of the electoral process in 2011–2021 demonstrate a specific type of constitutional crises in a traditional society facing the need for modernization.

The electoral process is studied on the basis of the analysis of new electoral laws and the results of parliamentary elections in the Arab countries during the study period, which, together with research works, gives a better understanding of their modern political development.

Keywords

Arab countries, constitutions, electoral process, constitutional crisis, electoral laws, electorate, “Arab Spring”, social movements

Received

15.11.2022

Publication date

28.02.2023

Number of characters

47110

Cite

GOST	Sapronova M. Electoral Process in Arab Countries (2011–2021): Specifics, Results, Political Activity and the Role of Youth // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2023. – Issue 1 C. 194-208 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640021368-2-1 (circulation date: 21.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640021370-5
MLA	Sapronova, Marina "Electoral Process in Arab Countries (2011–2021): Specifics, Results, Political Activity and the Role of Youth." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 1 (2023):194-208. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640021370-5
APA	Sapronova M. (2023). Electoral Process in Arab Countries (2011–2021): Specifics, Results, Political Activity and the Role of Youth. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (1), pp.194-208 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640021370-5

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 157

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Bartenev V.I. Pomoshch' stran Persidskogo zaliva postrevolyucionnomu Egiptu: logika, dinamika, sistemnoe vliyanie [The Gulf States’ Assistance to Egypt after the 2011 Revolution: Logic, Dynamics, Systemic Impact] // Vestnik RUDN. Seriya: Mezhdunarodnye otnoshe-niya [Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. International Relation]. 2019. № 4. S. 566–582. (In Russ.)

2. Ghonim W. Revolyuciya 2.0. Dokumental'nyj roman. [Revolution 2.0. Documentary novel]. per. s angl. T. Danilovoj. Sankt-Peterburg, 2012. (In Russ.)

3. Khabrieva T.Y., Chirkin V.E. “Cvetnye revolyucii” i “arabskaya vesna” v konstitu-cionnom izmerenii: politologo-yuridicheskoe issledovanie [“Color Revolutions” and “Arab Sring” in the Constitutional Dimension. Politological and Legal Research]. Moskva, 2019. (In Russ.)

4. Krylov А.V. Rol' religioznogo faktora v “arabskoj vesne” [The religion Factor in the “Arab Spring”] // Vestnik MGIMO-Universitet [Bulletin of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations]. 2013. № 4 (31). S. 43–51. (In Russ.)

5. Malashenko A.V. Konceptual'nyj analiz islamskogo radikalizma [Conceptual analysis of Islamic radicalism] // Islamskie radikal'nye dvizheniya na politicheskoj karte sovremennogo mira [Islamic radical movements on the political map of the modern world] / otv. red. A.D. Savateev. Moskva, 2015. S. 95–123. (In Russ.)

6. Medushevskiy A.N. Teoriya konstitucionnyh ciklov [Theory of constitutional cycles]. Moskva, 2005. (In Russ.)

7. Naumkin V.V. Islam i musul'mane: kul'tura i politika (stat'i, ocherki i doklady raznyh let) [Islam Muslims: Culture and Politics (written over the years)]. Moskva; Nizhniy Novgorod, 2008. (In Russ.)

8. Sapronova M.A. Konstitucionnoe pravo arabskih stran [Constitutional law of Arab countries] // Konstitucionnoe pravo zarubezhnyh stran. Uchebnik [Constitutional law of foreign countries. Textbook] / pod red. M.V. Baglaya, Yu.I. Lejbo, L.M. Entina. 4-e izd. Moskva, 2016. S. 779–861. (In Russ.)

9. Tsaregorodtseva I. Islamisty v politike Egipta i Tunisa posle “arabskoj vesny” [The Islamists in Politics in Egypt and Tunisia after “Arab Spring”] // Islamology. 2017. Vol. 7. № 1. S.122–137. (In Russ.)

10. Burgat F. Face to Face with Political Islamt. London; New York, 2003.

11. Front Islamique du Salut (FIS). Elections communales du 12 juin 1990. Alger, Bureau executif de la commune de Kouba, 1990.

12. Lewis B. From Babel to Dragomans. Oxford, 2004.

13. Maktouf L. Sauver la Tunisie. Paris, 2013.

14. Roy O. L’echec de l’islampolitique. Paris, 1992.

15. Shaikh Hamid al-Nayfar. Interview with F. Burgat // Political Islam. Essays from Middle East Report / eds J. Beinin, J. Stork. London; New York, 1997.

16. Surkov N.Yu. The Place of Religious Parties in the Political Systems of Arab Countries // Islamovedenie. 2020. Vol. 11. № 1. P. 26–37.