The Middle East's democracy deficit in comparative perspective / Marsha Pripstein Posusney
The reins of power
Coercive institutions and coercive leaders / Eva Bellin
Political crisis and restabilization: Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia / Jason Brownlee
Contestation without democracy: elite fragmentation in Iran / Arang Keshavarzian
Challenges to authoritarian rule
Multiparty elections in the Arab world: election rules and opposition responses / Marsha Pripstein Posusney
Party systems and regime formation: Turkish exceptionalism in comparative perspective / Michele Penner Angrist
Opposition and economic crises in Jordan and Morocco / Ellen Lust-Okar
Princes, parliaments, and the prospects for democracy in the Gulf / Michael Herb
Too much civil society, too little politics? Egypt and other liberalizing Arab regimes / Vickie Langohr
Conclusion
The outlook for authoritarians / Michele Penner Angrist.

Introduction: the Middle East's democracy gap in comparative perspective / Marsha Pripstein Posusney
The reins of power
Authoritarianism in the Middle East: coercive institutions and coercive leaders / Eva Bellin
Political crisis and restabilization: Iraq, Libya, Syria and Tunisia / Jason Brownlee
Elite fragmentation in Iran: contestation without democracy / Arang Keshavarzian
Challenges to authoritarian rule
Multiparty elections in six Arab nations: election rules and opposition responses / Marsha Pripstein Posusney
Party systems and regime formation: Turkish exceptionalism in comparative perspective / Michele Penner Angrist
Opposition and economic crises in Jordan and Morocco / Ellen Lust-Okar
Princes, parliaments, and the prospects for democracy in the Gulf / Michael Herb
Too much civil society, too little politics? Egypt and other liberalizing Arab regimes / Vickie Langohr
Conclusion: the outlook for authoritarians / Michele Penner Angrist.