The Role of the Arab Spring on Democratization of North African States: the Case of Algeria

Did the Arab Spring have any influence in the democratization process in the North African region? Using Algeria as a case study, this thesis main objective is to find out as well as to examine if the growing civil unrest influence the democratization process. For over a decade civil unrest appears to be a recurring event in the region, the key question is, whether democratization is realized in a seemingly intractable ever evolving and recurring civil revolutions? Additionally, the study sought to assess the practical difficulties in actualizing the concepts of democracy in an emerging democracy. Theoretically, liberalism/democratic peace theory, as well as, revolution theory is utilized to examine the impact of the Arab Spring on Algeria's democratization. Qualitative methodology is utilized for data collection of the study. Meta-analysis is used to analyze data collected from published and unpublished primary documents to generate conclusions and recommendations respectively. The study finds that, although the Arab Spring moved across in almost all of the countries in the region, it did not have any instant direct effect to Algeria, although initially threatened Algeria's national and security interests, thus, necessitating the need to adopt some liberal tenets in its system and structures. Consequently, Algeria has been sucked into its own internal civil unrest's, drawn from regimes illiberal practices, this study identified the practical difficulties that directly and/or indirectly challenges the idea of democracy, especially with regards to the political culture, systems and practices. The study finds that the unpredictability of the regimes "inclination to compromise" a compromise too convenient to the regime reflects to the perceptions of the state being reactive under the circumstance as opposed to being proactive, notwithstanding the continued attempts to formulate laws and structural changes in its systems of governance. In addition, civil movement organization is seen as strategically important in forcing the regime to open up to democracy and compromise to citizens (Imam -% with minimal changes but this could change with more persistence and pressure. Again, powerful state international actors with their competing interest remains to be ineffective and uninterested in the regime change. Thus, this study identifies that the centrality of democratization stems from political will, interests and urgency overtly taking a down-up-approach with the aid of international actors. In terms of liberal/democratic peace theory, it emerged that Algeria replicates liberal democratic tenets in principle and not in practice, judging from the attempts to change its laws and solve conflicting interests peacefully though "fallacious" when agitations are perceived constant, to military intervention and control to justify its continued rule and stay in power, a necessary ingredient for a civil uprise.