Demography and Democracy

The Middle East and North Africa have recently experienced one of the highest population growth rates in the world, something which has profoundly affected the wider region and its institutions. In addition, the recent period of unprecedented political turbulence has further complicated the picture, resulting in uprisings and resistance movements that have coincided with intense shifts in socio-cultural norms, as well as economic and political change. Through highlighting the links between population dynamics and the social and political transitions, this book provides a new view of these recent regional changes. The complexity of the changes is further explained in the context of demographic transitions (mortality, fertility, migration) that work hand in hand with development (economic and social modernization) and ultimately, democratization (political modernization). These three Ds (Demographic, Development and Democratic transitions) are central to Elhum Haghighat's analysis of the Middle East and North Africa at this crucial time.

“Advance praise: 'Threshold of a New Era asks what Middle Eastern demographic shifts portend for the region's democracy and political development. Haghighat's argument for restrained optimism regarding such trends is both counter-intuitive and well-substantiated in the quantitative supporting data that she impressively marshals. Any serious scholarship regarding Middle Eastern politics must contend with her provocative argument that urbanization, the rise of knowledge industries, lower fertility rates, higher literacy rates, and more women in the workforce will likely have a dividend: greater democratic and rights-friendly development in the region.' Anthony Tirado Chase, Occidental College, California”

'Demography and Democracy asks what Middle Eastern demographic shifts portend for the region's democracy and political development. Haghighat's argument for restrained optimism regarding such trends is both counter-intuitive and well-substantiated in the quantitative supporting data that she impressively marshals. Any serious scholarship regarding Middle Eastern politics must contend with her provocative argument that urbanization, the rise of knowledge industries, lower fertility rates, higher literacy rates, and more women in the workforce will likely have a dividend: greater democratic and rights-friendly development in the region.' Anthony Tirado Chase, Occidental College, California
'Dr Haghighat's book carefully analyzes data to explore the interaction of demographic transitions and economic transformations, making a significant contribution to our theoretical understanding of the changing relationship between development and women's status.' Roberto Patricio Korzeniewicz, University of Maryland
'An excellent interdisciplinary work to examine how demographic transitions have shaped and continue to shape the socio-political landscape of the MENA region. It provides both empirical and theoretical analysis on the complex dynamics of demography, development and democracy in four countries of the region.' Mojtaba Mahdavi, University of Alberta
'Haghighat has produced an impressive work of scholarship. In our rush to make sense of the unsettling events of the region over the last decade or so, contemporary scholarship frequently overlooks developments within and across Middle Eastern societies that may be more difficult to discern but are often profoundly consequential and significant. Haghighat's book addresses these critical gaps and adds greatly to our understanding of the momentous changes currently underway throughout the Middle East.' Mehran Kamrava, author of Inside the Arab State

Elhum Haghighat is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Lehman College, and Professor at the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center at The Graduate Center, both at The City University of New York. She is the author of Women in the Middle East and North Africa: Change and Continuity (2012).

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