An Empirical Analysis of Information and Communication Technologies and Their Effect on Political Stability in the Arab World

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between information and communication technologies, namely mobile phone subscriptions and internet users, and political stability in the countries of the Arab League with the addition of Iran. It’s analysis uses a sample of 203 countries including 22 countries which are considered to be part of the Arab League (and Iran) for the period 1996-2011. The main finding of this paper is that increased information and communication technologies lead to decreased political stability in Arab League countries (and Iran).