The recent history and politics of Egypt illuminates the tortuous and often contradictory relationship between liberalization and democracy in Third World countries. Eberhard Kienle argues that the much-vaunted reform and liberalization of Egypt's economy has been partial and selective, far from benefiting everybody. The author looks at how economic reform and liberalization have failed to produce a greater degree of political democracy: notions of elective pluralism, political accountability, clean elections, a genuinely free press, and the containment of police powers, which have turned out to be a great delusion masking restrictions on political participation and civil liberties. This book will shed much light on the dilemma between political and economic reform faced by so many developing countries today.

1 Clear and comprehensive overview of Egypt. 2 The author has an excellent scholarly reputation. 3 Covers one of the most important countries in the Arab world.

The uprisings which spread across the Middle East and North Africa in late 2010 and 2011 irrevocably altered the way in which the region is now perceived. But in spite of the numerous similarities in these protests, from Tunisia and Egypt to Yemen and Bahrain, their broader political effects display important differences. This book analyses these popular uprisings, as well as other forms of protest, and the impact they had on each state. Why were Mubarak and Bin Ali ousted relatively peacefully in Egypt and Tunisia, while Qadafi in Libya and Saleh in Yemen fought violent battles against their opponents? Why do political transformations differ in countries that were able to shed their autocratic presidents? And why have other regimes, including Morocco and Saudi Arabia, experienced only limited protests or managed to repress and circumvent them? Looking at the aftermath and transitional processes across the region, this book is a vital retrospective examination of the uprisings and how they can be understood in the light of state formation and governmental dynamics.

1 Clear and comprehensive overview of Egypt. 2 The author has an excellent scholarly reputation. 3 Covers one of the most important countries in the Arab world.

The end of the Cold War not only brought about dramatic international change, but also greatly impacted the politics and policies of Asian and African countries. This collection, edited by William Hale and Eberhard Kienle, brings together a range of essays exploring the impact of the end of the Cold War on regional conflicts and domestic policy in these two continents.

While Ba'thi Syria is often considered the last bastion of Arab socialism, Asad's regime has introduced sweeping economic change over the last decade. Gradual and discreet in the mid-1980's, economic reform quickly gained momentum. The easing of political repression and Syria's participation in the Arab-Israeli peace process have also been highly significant. Through analyzing the complex relationship between processes of economic and political liberalization in the domestic arena - and their repercussions internationally - the contributors to the book develop possible scenarios of the future development of Syria and its role in the Middle East.