Suchergebnisse

Unter dem Druck internationaler Marktkräfte sind in Marokko, Algerien, Tunesien und Ägypten marktorientierte Wirtschaftsreformen durchgeführt worden, die aber - wie die kritische Bilanz zeigt - nicht zur Entstehung wettbewerbsfähiger Märkte und mächtiger, autonomer Privatsektoren geführt haben. Trotz zahlreicher wirtschaftspolitischer Reformmaßnahmen haben sich viele der strukturellen Charakteristika der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Systeme nicht geändert. Eine echte wirtschaftliche und politische Liberalisierung steht noch aus; die Marktorientierung hat - in gewisser Hinsicht mit Ausnahme von Marokko - politischen Pluralismus nicht befördert. (DÜI-Hns)

Argues that 1990s parliamentary elections in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, & Tunisia have been public displays designed to present an artificial picture of pluralism for purposes of preserving regime control. The political & economic context of each country is described, noting that there appears to be no contradiction in Algeria, Egypt, & Tunisia between promoting selectively pluralistic atmospheres while simultaneously undermining democratic transitions, while Moroccan pluralism seems compatible with the current regime's domination. A comparative examination of 1990s elections indicates certain similarities: exclusion of the largest Islamist parties to some degree, fragmentation of opposition parties, shifting electoral rules, omission of judicial oversight, & obvious vote rigging/distortion. In addition, Egypt, Tunisia, & Algeria have experienced significant weakening of social/political support for liberal politics. Regime attempts to build consensus are analyzed, along with differences in electoral law that have affected fairness in elections. It is suggested that prospects for political pluralism in North Africa seem dim &, although Morocco's 1997 elections were the most promising, the priorities of the monarchy remain undiminished. 9 Tables. J. Lindroth

Während die strukturelle Anpassung der tunesischen Wirtschaft, die 1986 begann, relativ erfolgreich war, scheiterte in Algerien die 1988 eingeleitete Reformpolitik. Vier Faktoren bestimmen nach Ansicht des Autors die Ergebnisse von Wirtschaftsreformen: die Stärke der Reformkräfte, die Qualität der organisierten politischen Opposition, die Beziehungen zu den internationalen Kapitalmärkten sowie Zeitpunkt und Abfolge der Reformmaßnahmen. (DÜI-Cls)

HAVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN NORTH AFRICA IN THE 1990S bolstered prospects for democratization and greater pluralism? This study argues that, with the possible exception of Algeria's 1991 elections, they have not been harbingers of democracy in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The elections can be viewed as public displays by the state or limited political barometers, rather than processes which create obligations for the government. They have been means through which regimes have sought to dampen reactions to political immobilism, structural adjustment and the death of a social contract. Some elections have been manipulative, exclusionary exercises of elites trying to roll back the liberalizations of the 1980s, while others have been pseudo-competitive instruments of regime maintenance. Most of the elections can be seen as mechanisms for a top-down 'artificializing' of pluralism in order to preserve the core of regime control. In Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, there seems to be no contradiction between fostering a selectively pluralistic atmosphere and simultaneously undermining the transition to democracy. In Morocco, pluralism andalternanceseem to remain quite compatible with continued political domination by the Makhzen. Mona Makram-Ebeid's characterization of Egypt's 1995 elections could equally be applied to others in the region: 'What has occurred is a pluralization of the political sphere, yet it has been liberal neither in intent nor outcome.'