POLI 340 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - United Nations, Syria, Jordan
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
POLI 340
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
POLI 340: THE ARAB SPRING A
REGION TRANSFORMED
(September 6th)
FROM AUTHORITARIAN PAST
● Although the Middle East tends to be thought of as unstable between 1970 and 2010
it was one of the most “stable” regions in the developing world
● With the notable exception of the Iranian revolution (Ayatollah Khomeini) in 1979 and
US intervention in Iraq (Saddam Hussein) in 2003, few regimes changed
● This stability was highly authoritarian in character, and remarkably resistant to the so
called “third wave” of democratization in the 1970s 80s and 90s
○ Gaddafi was the longest ruling leader at the time
○ The Egyptian regime was a direct descendant of Nasser's military revolution
● During the period of third wave democratization, there was a large increase in
democratization starting with the transformation of right wing dictatorships in places
like Greece and Spain, then there was the transformation of military regimes in Latin
America and finally the fall of communism in Eastern Europe
○ This change however left the middle east widely untouched
● From the 2009 Freedom house map we can see that most of the countries in the
middle east were not in fact free
● Therefore we see that on the eve of the Arab spring the middle east was both very
authoritarian but also quite stable
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
TO POPULAR PROTESTS
● 17th December 2010: vegetable-seller Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire in
Tunisia to protest government harassment
○ The incident sparks national protests
○ 14 January: Tunisian president and long standing dictator Zine El Abidine
flees the country
○ New transitional government formed
● 25th January 2011: Anti government protests begin in Egypt in Tahrir Square, Cairo
and soon spreads across the country
○ Police pushed back, government thugs fail to break up demonstrations, army
won’t use sufficient force to suppress demonstrators
○ 11 February 2011: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns
○ Transitional authority passes to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
TO REPRESSION
● 14th February- protests stat in Bahrain
○ Demonstrators take over the Pearl Roundabout
○ Security forces use tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition killing several
○ State of Emergency declared on March 15 following the arrival of military
reinforcements from Saudi Arabia, GCC roundabout cleared and
demolished so that i will not remain a symbol of revolution against the
authoritarian monarchy
○ Repression continues to this day
UPRISING AND CIVIL WAR
● 17 February 2011: Protests in Benghazi and elsewhere in Libya escalate into
widespread uprising
○ Arab League condemns Libyan government, UNSCR 1973 (2011) authorizes
all necessary means- leading NATO to militarily intervene mid march
○ After 6 months of civil was, Tripoli capture by NTC rebels on 22 August
○ Gaddafi killed in Sirte in October 2011
● January 2011: Protests in San’ a, Yemen against longstanding Saleh regime
○ Protests escalate as some tribes, military leaders join the opposition
○ Saleh refuses to sign the GCG transition agreement in May
○ Violence further escalates (including AQAP, southern secessionists)
○ Saleh injured in assassination attempt in June
○ Saleh eventually transfers power through a deal in November to his Vice
President
● March 2011; Protests slowly begin in Syria
○ Very limited reforms offered by Bashar-al-Assad, very repressive government
○ Regime uses increasing force against largely peaceful protests
○ Increased militarization, radicalization and sectarianization of the conflict,
increasing external involvement
○ Syria descends into full scale civil
■ C400000+ dead
■ 5.6 million refugees, 6.6 million internally displaced
AND POLITICAL TRANSITIONS
● Tunisia: Successful elections held in October of 2011 for Constituent Assembly
resulting in Islamist (Ennahda)-led coalition.
○ New constitution adopted by broad support in January 2014
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Although the middle east tends to be thought of as unstable between 1970 and 2010 it was one of the most stable regions in the developing world. With the notable exception of the iranian revolution (ayatollah khomeini) in 1979 and. Us intervention in iraq (saddam hussein) in 2003, few regimes changed. This stability was highly authoritarian in character, and remarkably resistant to the so called third wave of democratization in the 1970s 80s and 90s. Gaddafi was the longest ruling leader at the time. The egyptian regime was a direct descendant of nasser"s military revolution. During the period of third wave democratization, there was a large increase in democratization starting with the transformation of right wing dictatorships in places like greece and spain, then there was the transformation of military regimes in latin. America and finally the fall of communism in eastern europe. This change however left the middle east widely untouched.
