Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East

Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East (2014) is a book by Shadi Hamid. Hamid examines how Islamist movements in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia changed as they sought and won power after the Arab Spring. He asks why many turned toward illiberal democracy and what that means for democratic politics across the region. Fieldwork among activists and party officials anchors the argument.

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Fareed Zakaria: “This week's book of the week is "Temptations of Power: Islamists and Iliberal Democracy in the New Middle East" by Shadi Hamid who was on the show earlier. If you want to understand the strange dynamic of the modern Middle East between brutal dictators on the one hand and jihadi opposition groups on the other, you must read the smart, well- written analysis.”