M. Tahir Kilavuz's Review of Why Alliances Fail: Islamist and Leftist Coalitions in North Africa by Matt Buehler (original) (raw)

Matt Buehler's book "Why Alliances Fail: Islamist and Leftist Coalitions in North Africa" explores the dynamics of opposition alliances in the MENA region, focusing on the factors leading to their success or failure. Through a comparative analysis of leftist-Islamist alliances in Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia, Buehler argues that the social origins of opposition parties significantly influence their durability, especially regarding co-optation by political regimes. By presenting a five-step theory linking the social bases of parties to their political outcomes, Buehler contributes valuable insights to the field of political science, particularly concerning regime survival and opposition strategies.