The Politics of Pandemics. Evolving Regime-Opposition Dynamics in the MENA Region | ISPI
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ISPI-Atlantic Council Report
The Politics of Pandemics. Evolving Regime-Opposition Dynamics in the MENA Region
Karim Mezran
|
Annalisa Perteghella
08 December 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic could not have come at a worse time, as many countries in the MENA region remain engulfed in vicious internal conflicts or must cope with structural socio-economic distress and popular dissent. In many respects, such a context and many of its problems resemble those that formed the backdrop for the Arab Spring in 2011.

Exactly like what happens with humans, who are hit the hardest when presenting pre-existing conditions, MENA states have been impacted because of their own pre-existing conditions. In this sense, the Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare all the vulnerabilities and deficiencies of these states’ structures, and has aggravated pre-existing political, social, and economic shortcomings.

How has the pandemic impacted state structures? What is its effect on organized protests and spontaneous popular movements? What are the possible long-term consequences?

 

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Table of Contents

Preface, Frederick Kempe, Giampiero Massolo

1. Covid-19 and Libya’s Tragedy of the Commons,

    Emadeddin Badi

2. Algeria: Politics and Protests in Coronavirus Times,

    Yahia Mohamed Lemine Mestek

3. Egypt: The Pandemic Crisis in a Time of Authoritarianism,

    Hafsa Halawa

4. Riding the Pandemic Wave: How the Iraqi Political Elite Survived a Triple Crisis,

    Abbas Kadhim

5. Socio-Economic and Political Impact of Covid-19 on the GCC States,

    Gawdat Bahgat

6. Iran: Access to Justice,

    Nadereh Chamlou

Conclusions, 
Karim Mezran, Annalisa Perteghella

 

MED2020: Watch The Report Presentation

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Tags

coronavirus MENA
Versione stampabile
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edited by

Karim Mezran
Head of North Africa Initiative and Resident Senior Fellow Rafik Hariri Center for Middle East
Annalisa Perteghella
ISPI Research Fellow and Scientific Coordinator of Rome MED Dialogues

This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions.

The opinions expressed in this Report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ISPI, and Atlantic Council.

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