The Arab Spring of 2011 unleashed a torrent of hope, change - and conflict. A year on, the excitement of new freedoms has given way to a complex picture ranging from gradual democratization to vicious repression, and a mounting frustration that, despite transformations in the political sphere, daily lives of most people in the region have yet to see an improvement. With the aid of first-hand reporting, Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren analyse the extraordinary repercussions of early 2011 and uncover the competing forces vying for dominance in the region. As secular parties have failed to take advantage of the new opportunities, Islamists (some apparently moderate, some less so) have surged to the fore, offering a focus on honesty, justice and conservative values which appeals to ordinary people tired of years of corruption and repression. Meanwhile, the authoritarian regimes who controlled the region for decades have in most cases yet to release their grip - whether in the form of Syria's attempts to quash rebellion or the subtler machinations of the Egyptian military. Less reported has been the Saudi role in suppressing popular protest in Bahrain, tacitly supported by Western powers who at the same time poured resources into ending Gaddafi's reign in Libya. As tensions mount and the global economic situation worsens, Noueihed and Warren ask: where next for the Arab world?
The Battle for the Arab Spring
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The overall scope and breadth of the work makes it deserving of special recognition. The authors personal experiences are combined well with a riveting narrative that plays especially well in chronicling the 'battleground states'. --James Denselow--James Denselow"Huffington Post" (07/16/2012)
About the Author
Lin Noueihed is a Reuters editor based in London. She has reported from the Middle East for twelve years, covering politics, economics, and conflict. Alex Warren is a director of Frontier, a Middle East and North Africa consultancy. He has lived and worked around the region, and since 2009 has specialised in Libya.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Dr B Clayton
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Lin Noueihed is a Reuters correspondent, while Alex Warren is a Middle East consultant.
Like many others the book attempts to answer the question 'why did they fall?'Nobody yet knows. The authors make a good attempt to find an explanation why some Arab rulers fell while others remain seated.They also ask important questions such as: what can the West do? and will Islamists flourish in the aftermath of the so-called Arab Spring? Again, it is too soon to know the answers to these and several other key and complex questions.
The book looks at the important,and growing,role of the media, particularly new media, the frustration of the young who comprise over 70% of the populations, and provides very useful economic and demographic data relating to Syria,Yemen Libya, Egypt and Bahrain.
Wisely, the authors refrain from trying to predict what will happen in Egypt and Tunisia. Their optimism that Islamist revolutions are unlikely is perhaps misguided given recent developments in Syria.
In order to get a balanced picture, the reader would do well to read other accounts such as: The Syrian Rebellion by Fouad Ajami, and The Rise and Fall of Arab Presidents for Life by Roger Owen of Harvard.
In order to grasp the reality and complexity of the problem it is essential to study the history, geopolitics, culture and sects of the region. Much nonsense, for example, is written about 'the opposition' in these Arab countries. There is no main opposition as in Western democracies. Instead there are warring sects and,tribes that for centuries have hated each other.For example,in Syria Sunni, Shia, Salafists and Alawites are sworn enemies.
This book while not providing answers sheds light on the tangled web of Middle Eastern politics. It is a timely reminder that in many ways several of these
countries are still emerging from the Middle Ages.
Like many others the book attempts to answer the question 'why did they fall?'Nobody yet knows. The authors make a good attempt to find an explanation why some Arab rulers fell while others remain seated.They also ask important questions such as: what can the West do? and will Islamists flourish in the aftermath of the so-called Arab Spring? Again, it is too soon to know the answers to these and several other key and complex questions.
The book looks at the important,and growing,role of the media, particularly new media, the frustration of the young who comprise over 70% of the populations, and provides very useful economic and demographic data relating to Syria,Yemen Libya, Egypt and Bahrain.
Wisely, the authors refrain from trying to predict what will happen in Egypt and Tunisia. Their optimism that Islamist revolutions are unlikely is perhaps misguided given recent developments in Syria.
In order to get a balanced picture, the reader would do well to read other accounts such as: The Syrian Rebellion by Fouad Ajami, and The Rise and Fall of Arab Presidents for Life by Roger Owen of Harvard.
In order to grasp the reality and complexity of the problem it is essential to study the history, geopolitics, culture and sects of the region. Much nonsense, for example, is written about 'the opposition' in these Arab countries. There is no main opposition as in Western democracies. Instead there are warring sects and,tribes that for centuries have hated each other.For example,in Syria Sunni, Shia, Salafists and Alawites are sworn enemies.
This book while not providing answers sheds light on the tangled web of Middle Eastern politics. It is a timely reminder that in many ways several of these
countries are still emerging from the Middle Ages.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By RJC
Format:Hardcover
This is simply a brilliant account of the events surrounding the Arab Spring, their causes and their consequences. A really fascinating and entertaining book, bringing history to life. A must-read.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By JJBrown
Format:Hardcover
This was a great overview of the Arab Spring. It is a truly comprehensive account of the uprisings that occurred in Middle East and North Africa. As such it is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the issues at play. The analysis of the future of the Kings of the Gulf and the power struggles between Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel is brilliant. Having only read about the events in the Guardian and from the BBC my understanding was limited, but this book helped to address that. I'd really recommend this well-written book.
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