{"product_id":"official-stories-politics-and-national-narratives-in-egypt-and-algeria-9780804792165","title":"Official Stories: Politics and National Narratives in Egypt and Algeria","description":"\u003cp\u003eUntil the recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, the resilience of authoritarian regimes seemed a fundamental feature of regional politics. While economic, political, and internal security policies are most often considered in discussions of regime maintenance, Laurie Brand introduces a new factor, that of national narratives. Portrayals of a country's founding, identity, and bases of unity can be a powerful strategy in sustaining a ruling elite. Brand argues that such official stories, which are used to reinforce the right to rule, justify policies, or combat opponents, deserve careful exploration if we are to understand the full range of tools available to respond to crises that threaten a leadership's hold on power.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrand examines more than six decades of political, economic, and military challenges in two of North Africa's largest countries: Egypt and Algeria. Through a careful analysis of various texts--history and religion textbooks, constitutions, national charters, and presidential speeches--\u003ci\u003eOfficial Stories\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrates how leaderships have attempted to reconfigure narratives to confront challenges to their power. Brand's account also demonstrates how leaderships may miscalculate, thereby setting in motion opposition forces beyond their control.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Laurie A. Brand\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Stanford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/03\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 296\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.12h x 6.05w x 0.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780804792165\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaurie A. Brand is Robert Grandford Wright Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California and author of \u003ci\u003eCitizens Abroad: Emigration and the State in the Middle East and North Africa\u003c\/i\u003e (2006).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stanford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":40146710724723,"sku":"9.78E+12","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_57359c19-603c-468a-87b9-f1dc6b8d4c3a.jpg?v=1654695888","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/official-stories-politics-and-national-narratives-in-egypt-and-algeria-9780804792165","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}