The Arab Spring, Democracy and Security: Domestic and international ramifications

The contributions in this volume analyse the political, economic and strategic dimensions of the recent upheavals in the Middle East known as the 'Arab Spring'. The 'Arab Spring' was a series of events that have caused great political tremors in the Middle East. The essays in this book present the initial assessments of a group of scholars on the implications of these momentous events. While a definitive analysis of the impact of the widespread discontent in the Arab world is too early to offer, the trajectory of the events indicate regime change in several states, containment of political unrest in most states, an overall increase in Islamist tendencies, and occasional fragmentation of political units. Most of the contributors here do not share the euphoria and optimism that was characteristic of many academic, journalistic and political circles' reactions to the evolving events in the region. They offer a preliminary analysis of the political developments in the region, while fully aware that much is still in flux in the Arab world. Nevertheless, they are able to focus on important issues such as democratization, the role of economic factors in political change, and explanations for variations in the Middle East regime stability. At the international level the evolving balance of power, as well as the role of the United States, are addressed. Moreover, the linkages between external and domestic politics and between terrorism as a Middle Eastern phenomenon and a regional security issue, particularly as it affects Israel, are dealt with. All chapters also address the implications of the analysis for Israel as well. This volume will be of much interest to students of Middle East politics, international security, foreign policy and IR in general.