Militaries, civilians and democracy in the Arab world

Abstract

Military withdrawal from political affairs in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya will be essential for democracy to take root. Yet, as long-standing guardians of authoritarian power in the Arab world, generals may be reluctant to hand over power to Islamist-led governments that are likely to deprive them of their political and economic privileges and bring them to trial for past abuses. Without the army’s commitment to withdraw gradually from civilian affairs, elected civilian governments will not be able to build a new order of thoroughly democratic institutions. Negotiating the military’s return to the barracks will be a key challenge for incoming governments.