RAPID: Social Networks, Clientelism and Elections in Contexts of Change: Egyptian, Tunisian and Moroccan Elections of 2011

埃及、摩洛哥和突尼斯的选举为探索“阿拉伯之春”和随后的民主过渡的广泛潜在影响提供了一个独特而短暂的机会。该项目将在这三个国家尽可能接近选举时进行实地调查。该项目将收集的数据将有助于审查这一进程对网络和客户关系、宗教和政治、性别和动员等主题的影响。 这些数据还将为决策者提供关于选举强化和民主过渡的重要见解，特别是在穆斯林国家，关于智力价值，选举的不同背景允许审查庇护主义的性质以及这种性质如何在社会结构和政治条件下变化。 具体来说，研究人员将研究这些背景下的选举行为是否应该被理解为一对一的政治交换，其中公民和候选人交换货物以换取选票，或者作为由竞争的社交网络决定的关系网络中的许多交换之一。 此外，作为与波特兰州立大学、哈佛大学和匹兹堡大学学者更广泛合作的一部分，该研究还将探讨其他一些主题。 例如，新进入政治体系的人与那些在以前的独裁政权下参加选举的人有什么不同？ 当公民对议会的未来作用不确定时，选区服务是否仍然是一个突出的考虑因素？ 在高度不确定的时期，政治动员是如何变化的？ 至于更广泛的影响，这项研究有一些影响。 首先，它将为决策者提供关于选举在这些新兴民主政权中的作用的见解。 鉴于其位置，这一点尤为重要。 其次，它将为跨时期项目提供基线数据，研究人员可以利用调查和竞选观察访谈来评估选举的变化，更广泛地说，随着政权的变化，代表性。 第三，也是最后一点，它将有助于建立和加强与中东学者和机构的合作关系。

The Egyptian, Moroccan and Tunisian elections provide a unique - and fleeting - opportunity to explore a wide range of potential impacts of the "Arab Spring" and the ensuing transitions to democracy. This project will field surveys in these three countries as near to their elections as possible. The data that will be collected in this project will allow the examination of the impact of this process on networks and clientelism, religion and politics, and gender and mobilization among other topics. This data will also provide policymakers with important insights into electoral strengthening and democratic transitions, especially with regards to Muslim countries.With regards to intellectual merit, the different contexts of the elections allow for the examination of the nature of clientelism and how this varies across social structures and political conditions. Specifically,the researchers will examine whether electoral behavior in these contexts should be understood as one-to-one political exchanges, in which citizens and candidates exchange goods for votes, or as one of many exchanges in a web of relationships determined by competing social networks. This will allow for a deeper understanding in countries with developing electoral institutions.In addition, as part of a broader collaborative effort with scholars at Portland State University, Harvard University, and the University of Pittsburgh, the research will explore a number of other topics. For example, how do new entrants in the political system differ from those who participated in elections under the preceding authoritarian regimes? Does constituency service remain a salient consideration when citizens are uncertain about the future role of parliament? How does political mobilization change in periods of high uncertainty? With regards to broader impacts, this study has a number of implications. First, it will provide insights for policymakers on the role of elections in these newly emerging democratic regimes. This is especially important given their location. Second, it will provide baseline data for cross-temporal projects, wherein researchers can use the surveys and campaign observation interviews to assess changes in elections and, more broadly, representation as regimes change. Third and finally, it will help establish and strengthen collaborative relationships with scholars and institutions in the Middle East.