Political parties in the Arab world : continuity and change “Analyses political parties and party politics in the contemporary Arab world. The Middle East is a region notorious for political systems traditionally built around absolutist monarchs and military dependent presidents. What is the role of political parties in such a context How do they support or undermine such authoritarian forms of rule What part have they played in the survival and transformation of political systems after the Arab uprisings What are the policy preferences of party elites and how do they connect with citizens’ expectations How do parties challenge and reflect the main social cleavages Finally what is the genuine significance of parties and party politics in a region struggling for some sort of democratic future This book attempts to answer these questions through a thorough theoretical and empirical examination and analysis of the most important aspects and traits of political parties and party politics in the Arab world exploring cases from across the region.” (Publishers description)