Description
Book SynopsisThe uprisings of 2011 have radically altered the political, economic, and social landscapes of the Middle East and North Africa. A clearer view of the recent past now provides greater perspectives on the causes and the consequences of these events. This collection of essays challenges the common tendency of applying the dominant frame of Arab Spring to explain contemporary politics of the Middle East. Numerous debates about the utility of the Arab Spring metaphor already exist, contesting such issues as its foreign origins or its temporal and optimistic implications. It further has the negative and significant side effect of implying a singularity to these events in a manner that often defies the varied conditions on the ground. This is why the term Arab Uprisings is used here as the organizing frame to address numerous socio-cultural, economic, political, experiential, and communicative aspects of the uprisings. This text is organized around three themes: origins, experiences, and tra
Trade ReviewThe contributors to this excellent volume treat the tumultuous politics of the contemporary Arab world in exactly the way it should be treated: from multi-disciplinary perspectives and with a ‘long view’ that minimizes the dangers of instant analysis based on current events. Rejecting monocausal explanations, this theoretically-rich collection illustrates the value of adopting a variety of analytical approaches to catalysts, dynamics and political trajectories alike. It is strongly recommended to anyone wishing to gain greater insight into the region and where it might be headed. -- Rex Brynen, Department of Political Science, McGill University
The Arab uprisings have not generated a linear process of transition to democracy. Much strife and uncertainty remain, as the authors show. After reading this book, however, nobody will doubt that the changes taking place are profound and irreversible, and that the Arab world will never be the same. -- Marina Ottaway, the Woodrow Wilson Center
Table of ContentsForeword: The Long View of the Arab Uprisings Rami Khouri Chapter 1: Introduction: Broadening Conversations on the Arab Uprisings Fahed Al-Sumait, Nele Lenze, and Michael Hudson PART I: CATALYSTS Chapter 2: Transition to What? Reflections on the Arab Uprisings Michael Hudson Chapter 3: The Arab Revolts: Local, Regional, and Global Catalysts and Consequences Mark Farha Chapter 4: The Political and Socio-Economic Origins of the Arab Uprisings: A Trinomial Probability Analysis Peter Tikuisis and Anton Minkov Chapter 5: Dissident Tunisia: Culture and Revolt Nouri Gana PART II: DYNAMICS Chapter 6: Reassessing the Recent History of Political Islam in Light of the Arab Uprisings James L. Gelvin Chapter 7: Protest Mobilization in the Age of Twitter Silvana Toska Chapter 8: Free? Not So Fast! The Fourth Estate Flourishes and Falters With the Arab Uprisings Adel Iskandar Chapter 9: The Arab Uprisings in Tunisia: Parity, Elections, and the Struggle for Women’s Rights Lilia Labidi PART III: TRAJECTORIES Chapter 10: The Arab Uprisings: Alignments and the Regional Power Balance Raymond Hinnebusch Chapter 11: Turkey's Ordeal of Democratic Consolidation: A Possible Model for the Arab Uprisings? Ergun Özbudun Chapter 12: Democratic Contagion versus Authoritarian Resilience: Jordan’s Prospects for Change Lars Berger Chapter 13: Remaking the People: The Arab Uprisings and Democratization Larbi Sadiki
