Name: After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure
Brand: University of Copenhagen
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4.7 (156 reviews)

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4.7

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538 ratings

About the Course

Learn why the hope and excitement of the Arab Spring is gone, why so many Arab states are falling apart, why the youth are so frustrated, why there are so many refugees, and what can be done about it. The so-called Arab Spring appeared to end decades of exceptionalism and bring the Arab world back into the mainstream of global developments. The rebellions promised the return of politics and the reassertion of popular sovereignty against their corrupt and geriatric leaders. Much hope and flowery language greeted the young men and women who deposed their leaders and tried to build new, better societies. Today, the Arab world is in deep crisis. Of the 22 member states of the Arab League, at least five have essentially collapsed: Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Syria exist only in name today, as their territories have fallen to competing, murderous armed groups. In the remaining countries, the old autocracies have reasserted themselves. The repression at home is now worsened by regional conflict on an unprecedented scale, and the resulting frustration has led to the biggest refugee flows in recent memory. What went wrong? This course offers an overview of the structural shortcomings of Arab states and societies, which help us understand why the democratic awakening did not happen but instead “has given way to civil wars, ethnic, sectarian and regional divisions and the reassertion of absolutism.” This raises the obvious and renewed question whether there is something inherent in the Arab, and by analogy Muslim, condition that makes them special. Does this condition make this part of the world impervious to generally observable trends towards greater accountability, popular participation in political decision-making, greater generation and fairer division of economic wealth? Join this course to find out!...

Top reviews

Nov 11, 2020

As a Senior POL/MIL Analyst for Egypt this course was simply amazing, hands down one of the better courses of study I have ever taken. Thanks!

Oct 12, 2018

An eye opening experience. I really hope this becomes a mandated course among anyone participating in any diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East and the Arabic world.

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151 - 157 of 157 Reviews for After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure

By Danny C

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May 15, 2020

Meaningful insights on the causes and consequences of the Arab spring from several points of view

By Majda M

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Dec 24, 2020

It is biased by the opinion of the teacher.

By Aishwarya S

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Jun 13, 2020

Very interesting

By Smriti

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May 26, 2020

nice course

By Trevor N

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Jan 15, 2025

I didn't like doing this course. The pacing was too fast and the material felt biased. More than half of the exams, I passed on the first try without watching the video because it was so easy to guess what the correct answers would be.