Book Reviews by Ilyas Saliba
Papers by Ilyas Saliba
In this paper, we examine the impact of ethno-political power struggles on au-thoritarian stabili... more In this paper, we examine the impact of ethno-political power struggles on au-thoritarian stability. Competition for state power between ethnic groups has so far been an understudied factor within the literature on authoritarian regime survival. Although attempts to account for cooptation have recently gained prominence, most remain somewhat structuralist and merely focus on institu-tions such as authoritarian parties, parliaments and elections as tools of coopta-tion. Such institutional proxies lack a crucial account for group-level dynamics and build on the assumption that more cooptation mechanisms provide more stability. Focusing on ethno-political power struggles between included and ex-cluded groups allows us to move one step closer to the locus of agency in power sharing and cooptation than has been the case in the previous literature. This paper will proceed in four steps. First, in relation to the existing literature we will illustrate how this research contributes to impro...
Die Bundesrepublik muss ihrer internationalen Verantwortung gerecht werden und sich im Zuge der S... more Die Bundesrepublik muss ihrer internationalen Verantwortung gerecht werden und sich im Zuge der Syrien-Konferenz in Genf aktiv für eine friedliche Beilegung des syrischen Bürgerkrieges engagieren. Dabei ist die neue Bundesregierung eigentlich in einer guten Position, um eine diplomatische Mittlerrolle zwischen den Konfliktparteien und den internationalen Akteuren zu übernehmen. Ein persönlicher Appell von Ilyas Saliba
In this paper, we examine the impact of ethnic cooptation on authoritarian stability. We argue th... more In this paper, we examine the impact of ethnic cooptation on authoritarian stability. We argue theoretically and demonstrate empirically that the inclu- sion of elites from politically relevant ethnic groups significantly reduces the risk of authoritarian breakdown. We also show how this effect varies across different forms of regime change and type. While a prominent explanatory factor in conflict research, inter-ethnic competition for state power has so far been understudied within the literature on authoritarian regime survival. Although accounts of cooptation strategies have recently gained prominence, most remain structuralist and focus on formal institutions such as authori- tarian parties, parliaments and elections that facilitate cooperation between a dictator and coopted elites. We go beyond institutionalist analyses and shift the attention to the identity of those who need to be coopted, the degree to which cooptation is actually achieved and the contexts in which cooptation works best. We present three main findings: 1.) Ethnic cooptation stabilizes authoritarian regimes. 2.) It reduces the risk of irregular but not of regular forms of regime change. 3.) It is most effective where formal institutions are weak, namely in personalist dictatorships.
This paper aims to investigate the capacity of authoritarian regimes under pres-sure to contain p... more This paper aims to investigate the capacity of authoritarian regimes under pres-sure to contain political dissent and contestation through institutional reforms. It builds on the importance of legitimacy in authoritarian contexts (Gerschewski 2013; Kailitz 2013a; Backes and Kailitz 2013; Burnell 2006; Holbig 2013) and in particular the often-overlooked relevance of political processes and associated claims of legitimation by competing actors.
Drawing on an in-depth account of the Moroccan constitutional reform process in 2011 based on a descriptive assessment of the political process and semi-structured actor-interviews conducted during 2013 vis-à-vis survey data from the Arab barometer rounds in 2007 and 2013, this paper emphasizes the im-portance of looking into political processes in order to detect mechanisms of le-gitimacy in authoritarian contexts.
The use of institutional reforms by incumbent authorities to restore control over pathways of political contestation and dissolute more fundamental threats to po-litical authority is a phenomenon observable common in all kinds of political sys-tems. Particularly authoritarian regimes often instrumentalize institutional re-forms to subvert dissent. In moments of contestation, regimes may use reforms to hijack the discourse on progress and political change and by the same token signal responsiveness to its citizenry. However channelling reforms into institu-tional and thus more controllable pathways allow a higher degree of control over the outcome of the process. Of course institutional reforms can also be a corner-stone in transitional dynamics however they oftentimes are embedded in an at-tempt to appease protesters with limited concessions while seldomly altering the underling power structures in a state.
The paper is proceeds in three steps. First, the main concepts for analyzing pro-cesses of regime legitimation are spelled out. In a second step I will illustrate the process through a case study of Morocco’s constitutional reform process of 2011. The conclusion draws on an assessment of legitimacy claims and perceptions of citizens before closing with an outlook for further research.
Publications by Ilyas Saliba
Das Theorem des „Dilemmas der Gleichzeitigkeit“ ist eng mit der Transformation der postsowjetisch... more Das Theorem des „Dilemmas der Gleichzeitigkeit“ ist eng mit der Transformation der postsowjetischen Staaten verbunden. Diese Umwälzung ist eine Revolution ohne historisches Vorbild und eine Revolution ohne revolutionäre Theorie. Ein auffälliges Merkmal ist das Fehlen vorab ausgearbeiteter theoretischer und normativer Annahmen einer revolutionären Elite. Der reißende Strom der Ereignisse brach nicht nur unerwartet los, er war auch von keinem vorbedachten Ablaufschema und nicht von ausgewiesenen Prinzipien und Interessen geleitet, über die bei den Beteiligten Klarheit bestanden hätte.
Bulletin zur schweizerischen Sicherheitspolitik, 2013
In öffentlichen Räumen treffen immer zahlreichere und unterschiedlichere Personen, Aktivitäten un... more In öffentlichen Räumen treffen immer zahlreichere und unterschiedlichere Personen, Aktivitäten und Interessen aufeinander, und spiegeln sich dank neuer Kommunikations- und Transportmittel gesellschaftliche und internationale Entwicklungen zunehmend unvermittelt. Damit wird die sicherheitspolitische Handhabung öffentlicher Räume anspruchsvoller. Mit Verweisen auf Fallstudien in Bern, Basel und Zürich beschreibt der vorliegende Beitrag die Entwicklung der sicherheitspolitischen Handhabung öffentlicher Räume in der Schweiz. Er verortet praktische Herausforderungen der geschaffenen Sicherheitsinstrumentarien und diskutiert, wie sie im Spannungsfeld mit höheren gesellschaftspolitischen Idealen bestehen.
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Book Reviews by Ilyas Saliba
Papers by Ilyas Saliba
Drawing on an in-depth account of the Moroccan constitutional reform process in 2011 based on a descriptive assessment of the political process and semi-structured actor-interviews conducted during 2013 vis-à-vis survey data from the Arab barometer rounds in 2007 and 2013, this paper emphasizes the im-portance of looking into political processes in order to detect mechanisms of le-gitimacy in authoritarian contexts.
The use of institutional reforms by incumbent authorities to restore control over pathways of political contestation and dissolute more fundamental threats to po-litical authority is a phenomenon observable common in all kinds of political sys-tems. Particularly authoritarian regimes often instrumentalize institutional re-forms to subvert dissent. In moments of contestation, regimes may use reforms to hijack the discourse on progress and political change and by the same token signal responsiveness to its citizenry. However channelling reforms into institu-tional and thus more controllable pathways allow a higher degree of control over the outcome of the process. Of course institutional reforms can also be a corner-stone in transitional dynamics however they oftentimes are embedded in an at-tempt to appease protesters with limited concessions while seldomly altering the underling power structures in a state.
The paper is proceeds in three steps. First, the main concepts for analyzing pro-cesses of regime legitimation are spelled out. In a second step I will illustrate the process through a case study of Morocco’s constitutional reform process of 2011. The conclusion draws on an assessment of legitimacy claims and perceptions of citizens before closing with an outlook for further research.
Publications by Ilyas Saliba
Drawing on an in-depth account of the Moroccan constitutional reform process in 2011 based on a descriptive assessment of the political process and semi-structured actor-interviews conducted during 2013 vis-à-vis survey data from the Arab barometer rounds in 2007 and 2013, this paper emphasizes the im-portance of looking into political processes in order to detect mechanisms of le-gitimacy in authoritarian contexts.
The use of institutional reforms by incumbent authorities to restore control over pathways of political contestation and dissolute more fundamental threats to po-litical authority is a phenomenon observable common in all kinds of political sys-tems. Particularly authoritarian regimes often instrumentalize institutional re-forms to subvert dissent. In moments of contestation, regimes may use reforms to hijack the discourse on progress and political change and by the same token signal responsiveness to its citizenry. However channelling reforms into institu-tional and thus more controllable pathways allow a higher degree of control over the outcome of the process. Of course institutional reforms can also be a corner-stone in transitional dynamics however they oftentimes are embedded in an at-tempt to appease protesters with limited concessions while seldomly altering the underling power structures in a state.
The paper is proceeds in three steps. First, the main concepts for analyzing pro-cesses of regime legitimation are spelled out. In a second step I will illustrate the process through a case study of Morocco’s constitutional reform process of 2011. The conclusion draws on an assessment of legitimacy claims and perceptions of citizens before closing with an outlook for further research.