Editorial

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: Editorial; Posted On Monday, 01 October 2012 09:56

The Arab Spring Manna

The uprisings of the last two years in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria broke out spontaneously without a prior ideological compass that might have helped the people of the region see the way ahead once the governments of those countries had been overthrown. This ideological void led to the creation of a political void after the collapse of those regimes, and the principal beneficiaries of this new development have been the Islamists as well as ex-members of the deposed regimes. Now we see the Islamists enjoying substantial political clout in Tunisia and Egypt and a remarkable degree of influence on post-Qaddafi politics in Libya. The question that now poses itself is: Given this new reality, can the world henceforth coexist peacefully and productively with the Islamists?

: Editorial; Posted On Wednesday, 05 September 2012 10:27

The Arab “Metal” Spring and the Headless-Chicken Revolutions

Not many facets of political science have given its students as many headaches as definitions. Those who have used words like “terrorism” are probably aware of the rather ambiguous nature of such descriptions. The word “revolution” is another example showing somewhat similar difficulties. Nevertheless, to me a revolution is a political phenomenon that is made up of three major stages: the first is the ideological framework, which is normally provided by intellectuals; this not only analyzes the situation at hand (descriptive), but it also proposes a way out of a seemingly unwelcome status quo (prescriptive).

: Editorial; Posted On Monday, 20 August 2012 09:11

The Arab Spring springs surprises

HUSAM DUGHMAN, POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND COMMENTATOR ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
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When a popular uprising started in Tunisia less than two years ago, it took the world by surprise. Not many observers had anticipated the outbreak, let alone the success, of popular uprisings in a region far better known for the longevity of its tyrants and despots.