The Second Arab Awakening: Revolution, Democracy, and the Islamist Challenge from Tunis to Damascus

by Adeed Dawisha

n eye-opening survey of the recent Arab revolutions and their political consequences, comparing them to those of a previous generation.

When, in early 2011, people poured onto the streets of Arab cities to demand freedom, it was not for the first time. An earlier spate of revolutions had swept the Arab world in the 1950s and 1960s to throw off the shackles of colonialism. Those revolutions that had promised so much bequeathed the recent crop of Arab despots. What then, of the chances for success this time?

This elegantly written, concise, yet detailed book is essential to understanding a fast-changing political landscape. It first puts the recent Arab awakening into historical context, then traces the progress and fates so far of revolutions in various Arab countries, examining the jubilant overthrow of tyrants in some cases and the even more brutal repression in others. Finally, it explores the threats and opportunities facing the victorious revolutionaries, the development of democratic institutions, and the meaning and consequences of Islamist victories at the polls.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Middle East

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2013

Reviews

[Briapedia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of the origins of the 2nd Arab Spring and how each country involved was affected because of it.

[Chad Kohalyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this is an interesting overview of the Arab uprisings from Morocco to Iraq, there is a little too much parliamentary politics coverage for my liking. Dawisha goes into detail about the post-revolutionary elections pretty much party by party, seat by seat. That is useful to someone I am sure, but not for someone looking for an overview.

The final chapter which asks the question whether democracy can bring Islamists to the center is an interesting discussion, though the author is a bit too pro-democracy to make me feel like the question has been thoroughly analyzed.

Not a bad book, but the narration is not the greatest, so get the text version so you can skip the parts that aren't relevant to your line of inquiry.

[Bruce Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought the author nailed the idea of a comparative study between the first arab awakening (breaking from the colonial past) and the second awakening referred to as the Arab Spring. Nothing like a walk down memory lane with the original reformers becoming dictators and being overthrown or co-opting emerging democratic elements. Unfortunately one can see the United States and all of its democratic flaws with corruption, elitism and lack of response to the public will. It helped me (as I am not an Islamic regionalist) to be able to discuss parts of the book with Kristian Ulrichsen for perspective.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albeit one year old, and to an extent having failed to fully forsee what would befall Morsi and the Brotherhood, this book still delivers wonders to the modern reader. I thoroughly enjoyed how Dawisha compared and contrasted the events of the first Arab Awakening in the post WWII - ushering the wave of secular pan-Arab dictators which would rule a good chunk of the Middle East for the next half cebtury - with the events taking the world by storm in 2011.