MES 7.01 Arab Revolutions: Dependency, Despotism and the Struggle for Democracy
This course explores the long struggle of Arabs to build independent and democratic states. After long cycles of revolutions and repression, the Arab World still suffers from despotism and dependency, and its people still yearn and struggle for freedom and good governance. Why have Arab revolutions failed? Are Arabs condemned to live under tyranny or is there hope for those who seek democratic, accountable governments and rule of law?
To answer this question, we will dig into the complex political and cultural realities of the Arab World. We will read about old and new Arab revolutions; from Prince Abdul-‐Qader’s armed revolt in Algeria (1832-‐1847); Egypt’s multiple revolutions
(1882 and 1919); Lawrence of Arabia’s Arab revolt (1914-‐1918); the bleak revolution of Palestine (1936), all the way to the Arab Spring of 2011 and its subsequent collapse into civil war and despotism. The readings cover these revolutions and the deep dynamics that shape Arab societies and states. As such, this course introduces students to the politics and culture of one of the most turbulent regions of our world.
Instructor
Fishere