Evaluating the Strength of Middle Eastern Monarchies and Republics

Abstract

In the wake of the Arab Spring, several states have faced turmoil, instability and a gradual overthrow of the regime. Interestingly, the states affected by the Arab Spring were largely republics including Syria, Tunis and Egypt. Both Egypt and Tunis witnessed an overthrow of the regime while the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, as the Al-Assad regime shows no sign of willingness to give up power. Two monarchies, Jordan and Bahrain, faced demonstrations and protests but were able to withstand any regime change. Given the realities of the Arab Spring, scholars question the applicability of Samuel Huntington’s notion of the king’s dilemma and his skepticism about the future of monarchies. This paper seeks to prove that Middle Eastern monarchies are generally stronger than Middle Eastern republics because of institutional flexibility, the ability to exploit financial and political resources in order to encounter the challenges faced with rapid social change and geopolitical realities.