Response #3

       Most of the states in the MENA region are historically based on autocracy, military control, and the roles of tribalism, sectarianism, and identity. As Lisa Anderson describes in her work, The State in the Middle East and North Africa, these aspects distinct to the MENA region can pose as challenges to change, especially democratization. Anderson also argues that “the region’s chronic instability, the limited legitimacy of most of its states, and their continued dependence upon externally generated revenues” further dampens the efforts of social movements to democratize the region. That being said, if a state lacks legitimacy, or is not economically or politically stable, democratization seems unlikely. 
Additionally, each states dependence on their military can affect the success of social movements and democratization. For instance, before Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office in 2011, Egypt’s government was under control of the Egyptian military. The threatening presence of the military therefore prevented any type of social or political reform until Mubarak was replaced. 
That being said, the type of ruler in a MENA state also affects the success of social movements and their efforts toward democratic participation. If a military dictator such as Mubarak has been in power for the long amount of time such as he had been, social reform is difficult to instill. Nevertheless, I believe that with the right type of state, social movements can be successful avenues toward democratic participation. Sticking with Egypt, now that a new president has been elected, democratic elections are being held in Egypt, and the military has far less of a role in government. Similarly in Israel, democratic values have been instilled in the state since 1948 because of humane leaders such as Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Although social movements do face many challenges within the MENA region, there are some states that provide the prerequisites for these social movements to pave the way for slow democratic reform.