Figure 6.21: FIGURE 6.21 PHOTO ESSAY: Power and Politics in North Africa and Southwest AsiaPolitical freedoms are relatively few in this region, which is one of the least democratized in the world. Many countries suffer from a violent political culture, as confl icts that might have been resolved peacefully through a free media and fair elections have instead been prolonged, embittering and enraging otherwise reasonable people. Meanwhile, wars and terrorism have given authoritarian regimes an excuse to forcibly repress legitimate political opposition groups.
