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After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure

Approx. 25 hours to complete

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Course Summary

After the Arab Spring is a course that explores the aftermath of the Arab Spring and its impact on politics, economics, and society in the Middle East and North Africa.

Key Learning Points

Understand the factors that led to the Arab Spring
Analyze the changes that occurred in the aftermath of the Arab Spring
Examine the impact of the Arab Spring on different aspects of society

Learning Outcomes

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Arab Spring
Analyze the political and economic changes that occurred in the aftermath
Identify the impact of the Arab Spring on different aspects of society

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

A basic understanding of Middle Eastern politics and history
An interest in the Arab Spring and its aftermath

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

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Notable People in This Field

Mona Eltahawy
Wael Ghonim

Related Books

Description

Learn why the hope and excitement of the Arab Spring is gone, why so many Arab states are falling apart, why the youth are so frustrated, why there are so many refugees, and what can be done about it.

The so-called Arab Spring appeared to end decades of exceptionalism and bring the Arab world back into the mainstream of global developments. The rebellions promised the return of politics and the reassertion of popular sovereignty against their corrupt and geriatric leaders. Much hope and flowery language greeted the young men and women who deposed their leaders and tried to build new, better societies. Today, the Arab world is in deep crisis. Of the 22 member states of the Arab League, at least five have essentially collapsed: Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Syria exist only in name today, as their territories have fallen to competing, murderous armed groups. In the remaining countries, the old autocracies have reasserted themselves. The repression at home is now worsened by regional conflict on an unprecedented scale, and the resulting frustration has led to the biggest refugee flows in recent memory. What went wrong? This course offers an overview of the structural shortcomings of Arab states and societies, which help us understand why the democratic awakening did not happen but instead “has given way to civil wars, ethnic, sectarian and regional divisions and the reassertion of absolutism.” This raises the obvious and renewed question whether there is something inherent in the Arab, and by analogy Muslim, condition that makes them special. Does this condition make this part of the world impervious to generally observable trends towards greater accountability, popular participation in political decision-making, greater generation and fairer division of economic wealth? Join this course to find out!

Outline

Instability and Institutional Failure
1a. Broken Societies and an Aborted Democratic Awakening
1b. The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility
1c. Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaption
1d. Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons
Readings for module 1
Broken Societies and an Aborted Awakening
The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility
Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaption
Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons

Governance
2a. Missing the Boat to the 'Third Wave' of Democratisation
2b. The Authoritarian Social Contract and the Absence of Politics
2c. Now is the Winter of Our Discontent
2d. The Absence of Politics: Fear, Stability, Institutional Decay, and Polarising Elections
Readings for module 2
Missing the Boat to the 'Third Wave' of Democratisation
The Authoritarian Social Contract and the Absence of Politics
Now is the Winter of Our Discontent
The Absence of Politics: Fear, Stability, Institutional Decay, and Polarising Elections

Institutions
3a. The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority
3b. The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness
3c. Contestation of Models: Is 'Good Governance' a Western or an Islamic Idea?
3d. Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards
Readings for module 3
The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority
The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness
Contestation of Models: Is 'Good Governance' a Western or an Islamic Idea?
Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards

Economics: Bread, Dignity and Freedom
4a. Material Base of Discontent
4b. Labour Market: Insiders and Outsiders
4c. Law, Institutions and Economic Performance
4d. Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking: Living on Borrowed Time
Readings for module 4
Material Base of Discontent
Labor Market: Insiders and Outsiders
Law, Institutions and Economic Performance
Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking: Living on Borrowed Time

Human Development: Growth and Frustration
5a. Structural Changes and Normative Resistance
5b. Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking
5c. Demographics and the Youth Bulge
5d. Science and Education: Producing, Disseminating and Using knowledge
Readings for module 5
Structural Changes and Normative Resistance
Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking
Demographics and the Youth Bulge
Science and Education: Producing, Disseminating and Using knowledge

Outlook: Elusive Stability
6a. The Persistence of Foolish Ideas
6b. Taking Responsibility
6c. Addressing Structural Failures
6d. Bracing for Trouble
Readings for module 6
The Persistence of Foolish Ideas
Taking Responsibility
Addressing Structural Failures
Bracing for Trouble

Summary of User Reviews

After the Arab Spring is a highly rated course that provides valuable insights into the political and social changes that occurred in the Middle East after the Arab Spring. Many users appreciate the comprehensive coverage of various topics related to the Arab Spring.