Before 2011, the Middle East was often referred to as an ‘institutional wasteland.’ Arab regimes were determined to prevent the growth of civil society or democratic institutions. There existed no political space for the millions of Arabs who were seeking to emerge from decades of political and economic failures.
A large group of dynamic Arabs are eager to transform their societies. They are now at the forefront of a global push to connect citizens and modernize political structures. In Egypt they are organizing themselves into revolutionary committees, the internet is abuzz with Tunisian bloggers, and social media has brought the painful struggles of Syrian revolutionaries to the homes of millions of westerners. As Arabs continue to find new ways to innovate, we will race to keep up. Return to Arab Awakening
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Syria's war, Israel's trap
Paul Rogers
The Iranian key to the Syrian crisis
Heiko Wimmen
Has Turkey reached a dead-end in Syria?
Firdevs Robinson
oD author detained in Dubai
"Mr. Ulrichsen believes that an article he wrote last summer "The U.A.E.: Holding Back the Tide," may have played a part in his blacklisting."
- Chronicle of Higher Education
"Mr. Ulrichsen believes that an article he wrote last summer "The U.A.E.: Holding Back the Tide," may have played a part in his blacklisting."
- Chronicle of Higher Education
Rita from Syria
Rap and the Arab Spring
Interview with Arab rappers Ibn Thabit and Deeb
Interview with Arab rappers Ibn Thabit and Deeb
Democracy and Islam
Sami Zubaida writes that the political fields and social spaces of many countries in the region have been opened, however chaotically.
Tariq Ramadan argues that we must look at the Arab Awakening in economic as well as political terms.
Sami Zubaida writes that the political fields and social spaces of many countries in the region have been opened, however chaotically.
Tariq Ramadan argues that we must look at the Arab Awakening in economic as well as political terms.
Mali in crisis
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The Mali effect
Stephen Ellis
Mali, and remote-control war
Paul Rogers
Qatar intervening in northern Mali?
Mehdi Lazar
The Mali effect
Stephen Ellis
Mali, and remote-control war
Paul Rogers
Qatar intervening in northern Mali?
Mehdi Lazar
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Our Editors
Associate Editor of Arab Awakening is pursuing an M.Phil in Comparative Government at Oxford University
Translation Editor of Arab Awakening is a psychology graduate with an interest in film
Associate Editor of Arab Awakening is pursuing an M.Phil in Comparative Government at Oxford University
Translation Editor of Arab Awakening is a psychology graduate with an interest in film
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Partners
We would like to thank the Network for Social Change for their generous support of our work
We would like to thank the Network for Social Change for their generous support of our work
Arab Awakening newsletter
Window on the Middle East
This week's window on the Middle East - March 11, 2013
Drafting an Egyptian constitution
Syria's peace: what, how, when?
From Morocco
Iraq war: ten years on
Ten years ago, what openDemocracy authors had to say on Iraq: war or not?
Adonis,
Rukhsana Ahmad, Yasser Alaskary, Meena Alexander, Hugh Beach, John Berger, Phillip Bobbit, Aaron Breitbart, Richard Burge, Nelcya Delanoe, Mitchell Cohen, Timothy Garton Ash, Paul Gilroy, Ralph Giordano, Todd Gitlin, Danny Glover, Günter Grass, Susan Griffin, Shusha Guppy, Denis Halliday, David Hare, David Hayes, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Faleh Jabar, Ghada Karmi, Muqtedar Khan, Satish Kumar, John le Carré , Sonja Linden, Frederico Mayor, Ian McEwan, Patrick Mono, Edwin Morgan, Ahmad Mukhtar, Friedemann Müller, Njabulo S. Ndebele, Ernst Nolte, Bahman Nirumand, Joseph Nye, Ben Okri, Nuha Al-Radi, Anita Roddick, Alexander Rondeli, Jacqueline Rose, Salman Rushdie, José Saramago, Donald Sassoon, Roger Scruton, Bapsi Sidhwa, Hazhir Teimourian, Sulak Sivaraksa, Lindsay Waters, Eyal Weizman, Arnold Wesker, Andreas Whittam-Smith, Judith Williamson
Ten years ago, what openDemocracy authors had to say on Iraq: war or not?
Adonis, Rukhsana Ahmad, Yasser Alaskary, Meena Alexander, Hugh Beach, John Berger, Phillip Bobbit, Aaron Breitbart, Richard Burge, Nelcya Delanoe, Mitchell Cohen, Timothy Garton Ash, Paul Gilroy, Ralph Giordano, Todd Gitlin, Danny Glover, Günter Grass, Susan Griffin, Shusha Guppy, Denis Halliday, David Hare, David Hayes, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Faleh Jabar, Ghada Karmi, Muqtedar Khan, Satish Kumar, John le Carré , Sonja Linden, Frederico Mayor, Ian McEwan, Patrick Mono, Edwin Morgan, Ahmad Mukhtar, Friedemann Müller, Njabulo S. Ndebele, Ernst Nolte, Bahman Nirumand, Joseph Nye, Ben Okri, Nuha Al-Radi, Anita Roddick, Alexander Rondeli, Jacqueline Rose, Salman Rushdie, José Saramago, Donald Sassoon, Roger Scruton, Bapsi Sidhwa, Hazhir Teimourian, Sulak Sivaraksa, Lindsay Waters, Eyal Weizman, Arnold Wesker, Andreas Whittam-Smith, Judith Williamson
