The Arab Revolution

{
  "authors": [
    "Marwan Muasher"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Arab Awakening"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "North Africa"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

In The Media

The Arab Revolution

The unrest and turmoil spreading across the Arab world has already changed the face of the Middle East and North Africa. Its impact will be measured best in decades, rather than months or years.

By Marwan Muasher

Published on May 10, 2011

Source: BBC America

As unrest and turmoil spread across the Arab world, the response of governments and citizens has differed depending on the conditions that shape the political, economic, and social realities in each country, explained Marwan Muasher on BBC America. In countries like Tunisia with relatively homogenous populations, there have been relatively peaceful movements for change. However in countries like Bahrain and Syria, with minority ruling regimes, Muasher explained that the unrest has quickly become violent and any transition will be met with a sustained period of conflict. “There is no question that this is a process that has started and has only started,” Muasher asserted. “I think we will measure what is going on in terms of decades rather than months and years.”

Initially, “the US pursued a policy of prioritizing stability over democracy and reform and it ended up with neither,” Muasher said. The Obama administration is now struggling to figure out how to react on a country by country basis and how it can support real reform that leads to a true separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. Muasher added that the killing of Bin Laden will further discourage extremism. The protests across the Arab world have shown the people that they can affect change more efficaciously without violence.

About the Author

Marwan Muasher

Vice President for Studies

Marwan Muasher is vice president for studies at Carnegie, where he oversees research in Washington and Beirut on the Middle East. Muasher served as foreign minister (2002–2004) and deputy prime minister (2004–2005) of Jordan, and his career has spanned the areas of diplomacy, development, civil society, and communications.

Recent Work

Commentary
Bombing Campaigns Do Not Bring About Democracy. Nor Does Regime Change Without a Plan.
- Marwan Muasher
Other
Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
- +18
  James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …

Political Reform Middle East North Africa

Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie India

Article
Risk and Retaliation: Israel, Iran, and the Evolving Situation in West Asia
An Israeli response to Iran’s October 1 attack is imminent. The key question is of its intensity and potential fallout, both within Iran, in terms of nuclear security policy changes, and across the broader region. The coming days are likely to reshape West Asia irreversibly.
Gaddam Dharmendra
Paper
India’s Sustained Economic Recovery Will Require Changes to Its Bankruptcy Law
As India’s economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, Indian businesses need efficient financial structures to regain their ground. Key reforms to India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code could fill these gaps.
Anirudh Burman
Paper
Cross-Border Data Access for Law Enforcement: What Are India’s Strategic Options?
Access to cross-border data is an integral piece of the law enforcement puzzle. India is well placed to lead the discussions on international data agreements subject to undertaking necessary surveillance reforms.
Smriti Parsheera, Prateek Jha
Article
The BRI in Post-Coronavirus South Asia
After the coronavirus pandemic wanes, how will China’s reorientation of the Belt and Road Initiative to address global health concerns influence its relationships with South Asian countries?
Deep Pal, Rahul Bhatia
Commentary
India’s Unheeded Coronavirus Warning
Early in the outbreak, government researchers forecast several high-risk scenarios that were downplayed or ignored in public messaging.
Gautam I. Menon

More Work from Carnegie India

Article

Risk and Retaliation: Israel, Iran, and the Evolving Situation in West Asia

An Israeli response to Iran’s October 1 attack is imminent. The key question is of its intensity and potential fallout, both within Iran, in terms of nuclear security policy changes, and across the broader region. The coming days are likely to reshape West Asia irreversibly.

Gaddam Dharmendra

Paper

India’s Sustained Economic Recovery Will Require Changes to Its Bankruptcy Law

As India’s economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, Indian businesses need efficient financial structures to regain their ground. Key reforms to India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code could fill these gaps.

Anirudh Burman

Paper

Cross-Border Data Access for Law Enforcement: What Are India’s Strategic Options?

Access to cross-border data is an integral piece of the law enforcement puzzle. India is well placed to lead the discussions on international data agreements subject to undertaking necessary surveillance reforms.

Smriti Parsheera, Prateek Jha

Article

The BRI in Post-Coronavirus South Asia

After the coronavirus pandemic wanes, how will China’s reorientation of the Belt and Road Initiative to address global health concerns influence its relationships with South Asian countries?

Deep Pal, Rahul Bhatia

Commentary

India’s Unheeded Coronavirus Warning

Early in the outbreak, government researchers forecast several high-risk scenarios that were downplayed or ignored in public messaging.

Gautam I. Menon