Populism in the Arab World: An Introduction

This special issue contributes to the burgeoning literature on populism in the Arab World by addressing questions that probe how populism shapes politics in the Middle East and North Africa.In doing so, the authors of the articles in this special issue lay the foundation for future work on populism in the region.While united in their aim of understanding this phenomenon in the Arab World, the works presented herein are diverse in their perspectives, the backgrounds of their authors, and the domains they explore.Beyond adding to the richness of this issue, this heterogeneity highlights important lines of inquiry that may be worth exploring in the future.Curtis Ryan leads off this special issue with a broad examination of the various manifestations of populism that have taken shape in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan throughout its history.His article sheds light on the spectrum of movements that have arisen, challenging conventional takes linking populist movements to strong, personalistic leaders or parties Middle East Law and Governance 17 (2025) 1-5