Saudi vote hands reformers a setback - Chicago Tribune

The weakness among liberal candidates is hardly unique to Saudi Arabia. Secular and moderate political forces across the Middle East routinely fail to best conservative opponents. In neighboring Kuwait, an alliance between the conservative Muslim Brotherhood and Selefi movements holds the largest share of seats in the National Assembly.

The success of Islamist political parties has roots that date to political events a generation ago. Political analysts point to the devastating Arab loss to Israel in the 1967 war and the death of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who had advocated a secular pan-Arabism.

In the ashes of that secular vision stirred a revival of religion as the possible salvation of the Arab world, and that spirit gathered strength after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Islamist parties, which call for a greater role for Islam in the affairs of state, tend to have more unified messages and stronger organizations, while moderate candidates often spread votes across an array of agendas.

(via Daniel W. Drezner)