Daniel P. Ritter: The Iron Cage of Liberalism: International Politics and Unarmed Revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa

Excerpt: Within this scholarly context, Daniel Ritter’s The Iron Cage of Liberalism offers an innovative contribution. Ritter seeks to blend insights from both structural and strategic perspectives, arguing that a key factor in some cases is the extent to which a dictatorial regime has established ties with Western governments, particularly the U.S., and adopted liberal features such as political parties, elections, and human rights rhetoric. However, the reality often differs: opposition parties may be suppressed, elections rigged, and the regime’s actions may contradict its professed liberal values.