In five pages Clement Henry and Robert Springborg's useful classification system for Arab nations is discussed with Egypt representing 'bully praetorian states' and Iraq, Syria, and Algeria representing 'bunker states.' One source is cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: CC6_KSmideClass.rtf
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Springborg have devised an intriguing method of assessing and classifying Middle East nations according to political views and positions. They classify "bunker states" as those in which a minority
group seizes control of the central administration and governs primarily by means of coercion. They classify "bully praetorian states" as those in which rulers rely upon the state apparatus
to generate policies and governing coalitions that, while perhaps not reflective of the will of the citizenry, at least "are at least not unrepresentative of their relatively homogeneous political communities."
In this classification system, Algeria, Syria, and Iraq qualify as "bunker states," while Egypt illustrates the bully praetorian form. The purpose here
is to assess the usefulness of this classification system. Bunker States Classifying Algeria, Syria, and
Iraq as bunker states does seem to be a reasonable approach if using this system of classification. The act of assigning labels in itself is subjective, but these three
nations do appear to fit the mold. Defined as a nation in which a minority group seizes control of the central administration and governs primarily by means of coercion,
Iraq alone stands as an example of the concept. Reminiscent of the manner in which Fidel Castro claimed control of Cuba so many
years ago, Saddam Hussein once was a reasonable figure in a nation that more often than not took a conciliatory stance with other countries of the world, at least those
outside the immediate geographical vicinity and those that were not Jewish or harbored the pro-Jewish sentiments that hard-line Islam finds so offensive. Algeria and Syria are no more cognizant