In the Middle East and North Africa, monarchs are constantly facing internal and external opposition to their rule. With democracies popping up in other developing regions it has become clear that MENA is well behind the curve when it comes to regime change. Despite all of the social, economic and, political pressures MENA monarchies have persisted due to their mechanisms that have allowed them to quash any potential uprising from their populations.
The largest challenge faced by MENA monarchies are economic challenges more specifically the stability of their economies. A vast majority of MENA nations economies are highly dependent on the export of their large natural resource reserves, mainly oil. This dependence leaves MENA countries at risk of being heavily impacted by fluctuations in the price of oil. Throughout recent history we have seen how the price of oil can start a domino effect of political unrest in the nation as it happened in Kuwait after the Gulf War when oil prices steadily declined.
When oil prices are high it is a major advantage for the monarchical rulers as there extreme oil wealth allows them to ease social pressure in numerous ways. One common way that these governments have eased social pressures with oil exports is by drastically lowering taxes. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have lowered the taxes on their population which causes their populations to become less politically interested and thus less likely to attempt to change regime type. These regimes have used their vast oil wealth’s to ease political unrest by attempting to lower overall political interest among their populations.
Tax cuts work in nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia because they have relatively small populations but in countries with larger populations tax cuts are not a possibility. Instead they reinvest their wealth into their intelligence agency hoping that they are able to thwart any potential uprisings before they can gain a following. These states are commonly referred to mukhabarat states a term that is colloquially used in reference to the secret police agencies that spy on civilians. Iraq and Egypt are two countries who have used their secret police to eliminate potential political opposition extending the rule of the current leader.
Investing their oil rents into the military is a risky endeavor as throughout the history of MENA their we have often seen a change in government due to a military coup. Gamal Abdel Nasser who ruled Egypt for over a decade was put into power after a military uprising against King Farouk. A large military may allow a ruling monarch to curb political uprisings but when they lose the support of the military there is nothing stopping a revolt.
Monarchical rule is a staple of the Middle East and the historical precedent is a key factor in allowing monarchies to persist. Many of the monarchs have become an identity of their nations further legitimizing their rule in the eyes of their populations. MENA’s deep attachment to religion has also been a large contributor for legitimacy of Monarchies.
Monarchies in MENA have persisted while in other regions they have struggled to survive to due the monarchies ability to adapt and use their resources in ways that keep the regime alive. They have reacted to all challenges and attempts for change with these factors. Despite external pressure for democratization MENA monarchies have continued to stay in power by using their advantages to maintain their rule.
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