Beyond the Arab Spring: Authoritarianism & Democratization in the Arab World

by Rex Brynen

For years the authoritarian regimes of the Arab world displayed remarkable persistence. Then, beginning in December 2010, much of the region underwent rapid and remarkable political change. This volume explores the precursors, nature, and trajectory of the dynamics unleashed by the Arab Spring.

349 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow, but informative read. Beyond The Arab Spring attempts to frame the 2011 Arab Uprisings in an international context, focusing on oil rentier states, foreign security interests, and the legacy of Arab authoritarianism (be it Monarchical or pseudo-Republican). The book delves deeply into an array of issues ranging from the impact of economic liberalization to the complex history of conflict in the region. This would have been a wonderful book had it not been for a few major flaws. First of all, it is poorly written. There are a number of typos and grammar mistakes (which is a shame as the authors of this text are from McGill, a school reputed to have high standards), it is extremely repetitive, and -most tragically- very biased. Together, these attributes make for a somewhat boring read. That being said, Beyond The Arab Spring is no doubt a good introductory book - but not worth the casual read as there are much better books on the subject worth investing in.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really instructive! Would be great if it took more into consideration non-state actors like the Islamic State. Could develop more about identities in the Middle East and maybe look into border reconfiguration.

[Mills College Library]

320.91749 B5737 2012

[Mitchell Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful description of The Arab Spring in 2011. It discusses the historical significance as well as the actual events and the reasons behind the event that shaped many of the development issues we see today, especially the Syrian Crisis.

The reading is very dense and can prove to be difficult at times but has tons of great information. Anyone looking to work in the middle east should glance at this book and maybe read particular chapters that are relevant to their work. The marque argument for me is why democracy has been successful or why it has failed. It is important to examine and evaluate their argument carefully and to make up your mind on your own.