Indeed, experience gives little reason to presume that a modern way of speaking, willingness to liberalize the economy, and an urge for technological development automatically translates into a democratic opening. It is more realistic to expect that the new Arab elites will make use of their states’ authoritarian institutions, both to overcome resistance to their economic agendas and to consolidate their newly acquired power.
的确，从经验看来，我们没有理由认为现代化的言谈方式、愿意解放经济的态度、以及敦促科技发展的做法就自动代表了民主化的趋势。要看到阿拉伯新的精英们会利用国家的权力机构消除经济议程的阻力，同时巩固其刚获得的权力，这才更实际。