The Arab Spring

{
  "authors": [
    "Marina Ottaway"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Arab Awakening"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "North Africa",
    "Egypt",
    "Libya",
    "Tunisia",
    "Syria",
    "Gulf",
    "Levant",
    "Maghreb"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

In The Media

The Arab Spring

Three months into the Arab Spring and after the fall of the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, protests continue across the Middle East and North Africa and the region remains in a state of flux.

By Marina Ottaway

Published on Apr 27, 2011

Source: Economist

Three months into the Arab Spring and following the fall of Tunisia and Egypt's presidents, protests are continuing throughout the region. “The region remains in a state of flux,” stated Carnegie's Marina Ottaway on the Economist. In Libya, NATO forces have intervened in the bitter civil war between rebels and Qaddafi’s forces. In Syria, the regime has violently repressed protesters and even resorted to mass arrests. Moreover, suggested Ottaway “questions remain as to whether or not this unrest will spread to the Gulf countries.” Even in Tunisia and Egypt, the countries furthest along in their attempts to install new more representative and responsive governments, the outcome remains unclear. In both countries, many remnants of the old regime remain in place. Ultimately, Ottaway concluded, three months into the Arab Spring there are still more questions than answers.

About the Author

Marina Ottaway

Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program

Before joining the Endowment, Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American University in Cairo, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Recent Work

Article
Reactions to the Syrian National Initiative
- Marina Ottaway, Omar Hossino
Article
Slow Return to Normal Politics in Egypt
- Marina Ottaway

Political Reform Middle East North Africa Egypt Libya Tunisia Syria Gulf Levant Maghreb

Carnegie 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 Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Diwan
Filling the Void as Syria’s Transitional Justice Stalls
Reconciliation councils are emerging throughout the country to mediate in intracommunal disputes, many from the war years.
Natacha Danon
Article
Jordan’s Border Economy: Even Amid Transformation, the Drug Trade Endures
The civil war in Syria may have ended, but the country continues to serve as a source for the trafficking of illegal substances into and via Jordanian territory.
Armenak Tokmajyan, Laith Qerbaa
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Turkmenistan’s Ruling Duo Is Having a Family Feud. Will Their Regime Survive It?
Ex-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov remains interested in politics, but his son Serdar, Turkmenistan’s current president, is becoming increasingly independent and willing to break with his father’s legacy. If their covert rivalry goes too far, both risk losing power.
Galiya Ibragimova
Article
Europe’s Tide of Citizen Assemblies: Unsung Success or Anticlimax?
A notable degree of participative democracy has firmly arrived in Europe. But to have more far-reaching impact, democratic deliberation needs to move into a radically new phase.
Richard Youngs
Commentary
Diwan
A Celebration or Funeral in Iraq?
As the U.S.-led Coalition withdraws, the Kurds’ reliance on Baghdad, and on themselves, will only increase.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Diwan

Filling the Void as Syria’s Transitional Justice Stalls

Reconciliation councils are emerging throughout the country to mediate in intracommunal disputes, many from the war years.

Natacha Danon

Article

Jordan’s Border Economy: Even Amid Transformation, the Drug Trade Endures

The civil war in Syria may have ended, but the country continues to serve as a source for the trafficking of illegal substances into and via Jordanian territory.

Armenak Tokmajyan, Laith Qerbaa

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Turkmenistan’s Ruling Duo Is Having a Family Feud. Will Their Regime Survive It?

Ex-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov remains interested in politics, but his son Serdar, Turkmenistan’s current president, is becoming increasingly independent and willing to break with his father’s legacy. If their covert rivalry goes too far, both risk losing power.

Galiya Ibragimova

European Union EU democracy Parliament citizens assembly

Article

Europe’s Tide of Citizen Assemblies: Unsung Success or Anticlimax?

A notable degree of participative democracy has firmly arrived in Europe. But to have more far-reaching impact, democratic deliberation needs to move into a radically new phase.

Richard Youngs

Commentary

Diwan

A Celebration or Funeral in Iraq?

As the U.S.-led Coalition withdraws, the Kurds’ reliance on Baghdad, and on themselves, will only increase.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg