The Economist (May 14)
The mess that has followed the once hopeful Arab spring, “is not so much a clash of civilisations as a war within Arab civilisation. Outsiders cannot fix it—though their actions could help make things a bit better, or a lot worse. First and foremost, a settlement must come from Arabs themselves.”
Tags: Arab, Arab spring, Civilisations, Clash, Outsiders, Settlement, War
Financial Times (January 29, 2014)
After such great hope, the Arab Spring evaporated. Whether some countries ultimately took steps forward or backwards remains unclear. A few have obviously fallen into anarchy. “Still, amid all the gloom, there is one country – Tunisia – which suddenly appears within striking distance of successfully completing the journey from dictatorship to democracy.” With a new constitution clearing the path for free elections, Tunisia may be able to stand “as a beacon of what can be achieved if Islamists and secularists set aside their differences for the greater good.”After such great hope, the Arab Spring evaporated. Whether some countries ultimately took steps forward or backwards remains unclear. A few have obviously fallen into anarchy. “Still, amid all the gloom, there is one country – Tunisia – which suddenly appears within striking distance of successfully completing the journey from dictatorship to democracy.” With a new constitution clearing the path for free elections, Tunisia may be able to stand “as a beacon of what can be achieved if Islamists and secularists set aside their differences for the greater good.”
Tags: Anarchy, Arab spring, Constitution, Democracy, Dictatorship, Differences, Elections, Greater good, Hope, Islamists, Secularists, Tunisia
LA Times (August 10)
The “Arab Spring” may not have succeeded in bringing democracy to the Middle East. But it has provided powerful evidence of a different phenomenon: the illusion of U.S. influence over governments we once considered our clients.”
Tags: Arab spring, Clients, Democracy, Governments, Influence, Middle East, U.S.
The Economist (July 13)
“Roughly two-and-a-half years after the revolutions in the Arab world, not a single country is yet plainly on course to become a stable, peaceful democracy.” The Arab spring appears “doomed” to some. Yet, “despite the chaos, the blood and the democratic setbacks, this is a long process. Do not give up hope.”
Tags: Arab spring, Blood, Chaos, Democracy, Hope, Peace, Revolution, Setbacks
Time (October 8)
“The Arab Spring has indeed been bumpy…. The days when the U.S. could manage events in the region through a network of local autocrats are over.” Looking ahead, one very real possibility is “regional chaos and, ultimately, a redrawing of the national borders that were imagined by Europeans at the end of World War I.”
“The Arab Spring has indeed been bumpy…. The days when the U.S. could manage events in the region through a network of local autocrats are over.” Looking ahead, one very real possibility is “regional chaos and, ultimately, a redrawing of the national borders that were imagined by Europeans at the end of World War I.”
Tags: Arab spring, Autocrats, Borders, Chaos, Europeans, Middle East, U.S.
The Economist (July 14)
“The fall of the Arab world’s worst two dictators would give a terrific boost to the region.” Half a year into the Arab spring, results are mixed. Perhaps we expected too much, too soon, but we should not forget the remaining potential. “The immediate fate of the Arab spring turns on Libya and Syria, both in the throes of revolution. If either got rid of its dictator, the overall Arab movement towards democracy would enjoy a huge step up.”
Tags: Arab spring, Democracy, Dictators, Libya, Middle East, Syria
