Strong state vs. Weak society

Abstract

This paper argues that the distribution of material capabilities in state society relations is the main factor shaping the regime of Middle Eastern states. This premise suggests that sustainable democracy in the Arab world fails to flourish because states with their centralized bureaucracies are too powerful compared to the large portions of the societies. Even with the somewhat limited power and influence of the most affluent members of civil society, there are no real autonomous actors in the Middle Eastern beyond the central state. Civil Society is too weak to check the state’s continuing power. This is the most fundamental cause for the lack of democratization in the Middle East. States are too strong societies are too weak.