Shulyak S. Neopatrimonial Dictatorships in the Arab World: Analysis of the Ba'thist Model.

Object of the given work is the regimes of neopatrimonial dictatorships in modern political systems. The aim is to analyze the process of a becoming and functioning of neopatrimonial dictatorships in the arab world , their specific features on an example of political systems of Syria and Iraq, and also to define the prospects of their democratic transformation . Methods - comparative, political-cultural and historical approaches; quantitative methods, method of "pure types", logical methods. The thesis suggests treating political regimes of Arab states as neopatrimonial. The essence and the most characteristic features of neopatrimonial regimes are determined. Factors that caused the development of a neopatrimonial character of present-day political systems of Arab countries (Syria and Iraq in particular) are defined. The basic peculiarities of Ba'thist political system are analyzed. The specific character of the interaction of traditional social structures of Syria and Iraq with political institutionsof modern type as well as non-formal mechanism of exercising power is studied. The prospects for the democratic transformation of the Ba'thist model of neopatrimonial regime are examined. Spheres of use are the analysis of a political realities of the other Arab states, and also countries of Asia and Africa, developing of the same aspects of external state policy, conducting of scientific consultations, implementation of training courses.