Authoritarian Resilience in MENA Countries in the Era of Autocratization: a Comparative Area Study of Authoritarian Deepening

Abstract

Building on studies on authoritarian resilience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the article engages the current debate on global autocratization. It does so through the definition, operationalization and empirical analysis of the concept of “authoritarian deepening” as a manifestation of contemporary authoritarianism. After framing theoretically and methodologically the study of authoritarian deepening, a Comparative Area Study—based on the most-different case study design—is conducted looking at countries from different regions that share similar trends of growing authoritarianism (Egypt, Cameroon, Cambodia, and Venezuela) to illustrate its characteristics. The article shows that authoritarian deepening is experienced by autocracies all over the world, although the MENA region is particularly affected. The comparative analysis of the four cases provides evidence that the process of authoritarian deepening has resulted in clear suppression of political competition, concentration of power in the executive, and even stricter control of rights and freedoms.