Cultural Pluralism and Political Regime(s): Trying to Compare Africa and the Arab World

Contrary to what might be thought, the regulation of cultural pluralism (ethnic, religious, sectarian, linguistic...) is not the monopoly of democratic regimes; authoritarian regimes also have to do so as their stability and legitimacy is often involved. Such regulation in authoritarian situations is indeed a strategic resource that permits obedience and consent to domination to be gained. The longevity of authoritarian regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the Arab world, particularly in the Middle East, certainly owes much to this resource, though it does not totally and indefinitely immunize them from dissent. In fine, this need for regulation tends somewhat to somehow confuse the boundary between democratic regimes and authoritarian ones.