Political-Military Relations and the Stability of Arab Regimes

Arab leaderships have been remarkably stable since the 1970s, particularly given the frequency of military coups in preceding years. Nonetheless, the military remains a key force in most Arab states and political leaders must maintain its loyalty if they are to retain office. Regimes have used a range of methods to ensure the military’s backing:

• In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak has maintained p...