Elections in the Middle East

The far-reaching impact of the latest parliamentary elections in the Middle East is examined in this volume. After an introduction that analyses the trends illustrated by the elections and their implications for regional stability, the book discusses recent elections in Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Kuwait. Individual chapters analyze the influence of pre-1980 patterns in the party system and voting on Turkey's 1983 election; the balloting in Egypt's 1984 election as a turning point toward democratization in contemporary Egyptian politics; the significance of Israel's 1984 election in view of the relatively small differences in objectives between Israel's right-wing Likud and the centrist Labor party; the role of traditional tribal influences and new political factions in Jordan's 1984 elections; and the influence of newly emerging social groups in Kuwait's 1985 election. The contributors discuss differences in party programs and platforms, the extent of control by elites, and the relevance of the elections to crucial economic and social problems and political stability