Rentierism

I think that rentierism is a useful concept in explaining authoritarianism in MENA. It seems particularly valid to me because it provides a lucid logical framework for explaining the authoritarian tendency in the Middle East without resorting to arguments that fall along the lines of "it's just how they are, those Arabs." It takes into account what makes the region singular without making sweeping assumptions about the people who live there. Whether or not the theory is entirely accurate is another matter entirely, the fact that it provides a theory that can be tested and empirically evaluated means that it is sound, at least as far as its methodology is concerned.

Rentierism is also useful in that it provides a mechanism through which colonial powers exert their influence. It is almost certainly true that colonialism has a significant impact on MENA, however, simply leaving it at that is not a particularly satisfying explanation. Rentierism provides an avenue through which the effects of colonial powers can be explained and quantified by a reasonably empirical method.

That being said, I am skeptical of almost any single factor explanation for anything. It seems somewhat far fetched to assume that an abundance of mineral resources is the only factor that plays a role. Norway (sigh) is a perfect exception to rentierism. Despite having vast mineral resources in the form of North Sea oil, Norway rates as one of the most democratic countries on earth, and has not displayed any authoritarian tendencies for many decades.

I think that rentierism, assuming that it is a problem, can be solved by imposing conditions on the purchase of oil. Although it seems highly unlikely given the appetite for oil, mandating that oil be purchased only from legitimately democratic and transparent states might be a good way to mitigate the lack of representation that the citizens of authoritarian regimes experience. It would also be worthwhile to stipulate where and how oil revenue is spent, however this also seems like a long shot because of how high the demand for oil is; rentier states could easily find other buyers, whereas the buyers would be hard pressed to find other sellers.