Literature on Yemen

Yemen is seen as having made significant progress since its unification in 1990 and civil war in 1994. In recent years, the government has undertaken various measures to encourage democracy and political pluralism. As a result, much of the literature on the political situation in Yemen focuses on the democratisation process and the role of political parties. This literature describes the political landscape in Yemen as characterised by:

• a semi-authoritarian regime, which allows some freedoms while restricting others;
• a fragmented opposition;
• a poorly designed electoral system which does not reflect the aspirations of the population; and
• a predominance of tribal structures and norms in the rural areas which often parallel government systems.

The main challenges for the Yemeni government include strengthening the rule of law, addressing corruption, and increasing transparency.