Of empires and citizens

the long version

In the post-Cold War era, why has democratization been slow to arrive in the Arab world? Jamal argues that to understand support for the authoritarian status quo in parts of this region, and the willingness of its citizens to compromise on core democratic principles, one must factor in how a strong U.S. presence and popular anti-Americanism weakens democratic voices. By examining such countries as Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, Jamal explores how Arab citizens decide whether to back existing regimes, regime transitions, and democratization projects, and how the global position of Arab states shapes people's attitudes toward their governments. From publisher description.