Description: Constitutional bargains are seen as cornerstones of democratic transitions in much of the world. Yet very few studies have theorized about the link between constitution-making and democratization. Shifting the focus on democratization away from autocratic regime break down, this book considers the importance of inclusive constitution-building for democratization. In this pathbreaking volume, Tofigh Maboudi draws on a decade of research on the Arab Spring to explain when and how constitutional bargains facilitate (or hinder) democratization. Here, he argues that constitutional negotiations have a higher prospect of success in establishing democracy if they resolve societal, ideological, and political ills. Emphasizing the importance of constitution-making processes, Maboudi shows that constitutions can resolve these problems best through participatory and inclusive processes. Above all, The 'Fall' of the Arab Spring demonstrates that civil society is the all-important link that connects constitutional bargaining processes to democratization.
Brief description: Tofigh Maboudi is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago, who has studied Arab constitutions and constitutionalism for over a decade. Maboudi's research focuses on comparative constitutional studies, democratization, authoritarianism, and Middle East politics. His research has appeared in several journals including The American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, and Political Research Quarterly. He is the co-author of Constituents before Assembly: Participation, Deliberation, and Representation in the Worldwide Crafting of New Constitutions (2017). Professor Maboudi has been a Visiting Scholar at the American Bar Foundation.
Review Quotes: 'Waves of constitution-making are rare. After the revolutions of 1848 and the East European transitions of 1989, the Arab Spring from 2011 onwards offers the most recent example. In this path-breaking book, Tofigh Maboudi argues that both the success of the Tunisian process and the failures of ten other Arab nations to adopt democratic constitutions can be explained by features of the constitution-making process, notably the presence or absence of inclusion and participation. In analyses that are both depressing and illuminating, Maboudi shows that the Arab Spring was a tragedy that also created a repertoire for change.' Jon Elster, Robert K. Merton Professor of the Social Sciences, Columbia University