The Arab Spring: Causes, Consequences, and Implications

Abstract

Many experts compare the Arab spring to the popular revolutions that shook communist states in the late 1980s and early 1990s of the 20th century. After more than five decades of independence from European colonialism, autocratic rulers have failed to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Arab people. These include political freedom, economic prosperity, and human dignity. Starting with the Jasmine revolution in Tunisia, the shockwave swept through the area and threatened the stability of this oil-rich region with repercussions felt internationally. The aim of this paper is to show that the current situation is a corollary of decades of failed policies, exacerbated by a unique economic crisis. The far-flung consequences, I will argue, require careful attention and cautious management from the international community headed by the United States, should the latter seek to preserve its pivotal role in the region.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 18, 2012
Accession Number
ADA560779

Entities

People

  • El Hassane Aissa

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil War
  • Communities
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Middle East
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Movements
  • Political Systems
  • Revolutions
  • Social Media
  • Social Welfare
  • Societies
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.