Religion has consistently served as the primary foundation for political legitimacy in the Arab region. Political power here is often closely intertwined with religion and its deep symbolism among the population. While history plays a substantial role since this region was the birthplace of the three monotheistic religions it alone does not fully explain the authoritarian use of religious frameworks to legitimize elites and often autocratic practices. Indeed, due to the phenomenon known as the "Arab authoritarian syndrome", ruling political elites typically possess little to no popular legitimacy. Consequently, these regimes do not seek mass mobilization, as totalitarian systems might.
Furthermore, their hold on power is not grounded in a coherent ideology but rather in a fluid blend of simplified worldviews and national identity narratives, such as pan-Arabism, socialism, pan-Islamism, and nationalism. The lack of a strong mobilizing ideology necessitates a reliance on traditional political socialization strategies, emphasizing primary allegiance to the tribe, clan, ruling party, or leader. However, this kind of socialization, which enforces individual subservience, often encounters resistance and rebellion when the regime’s repressive grip weakens or shows signs of easing.
In this context, the extensive and sometimes excessive use of religion enables these regimes to reinforce their legitimacy, compensating for what they have lost in terms of mass mobilization and popular support.