Democracy in the Middle East?

Following the tradition of past successful Symposiums, editors of Global Politics decided to focus this time on recent popular uprisings in the Arab World. There are not many issues in contemporary international politics that are so dynamically developing and vigorously debated as this one. Thanks to the global media we were able to watch the overthrow of (so far) two authoritarian regimes, but the impact of these events on regional and global politics is yet to be seen. By addressing various Middle East specialists with diverse backgrounds and institutional affiliations such as London School of Economics and Political Science, John Hopkins University or American University of Beirut, we would like to contribute a little to the debate and hopefully bring attention of our readers to less known aspects of these dramatic events. What are the most important overlooked factors that were crucial for the development of the Arab Spring? What are the prospects of transition in Egypt and Tunisia?

It is our great pleasure to publish the answers of Sheila Carapico, Marek Čejka, Katarina Dalacoura, Jack A.Goldstone, Hilal Khashan, Fred H. Lawson, Karim Mezran and Yezid Sayigh from institutions like George Mason University, London School of Economics, Johns Hopkins University, King's College London or American University of Beirut.

GP questions:
1) In your opinion, what is the most overlooked event or factor in the revolutionary Arab world that deserves to be mentioned and is of the utmost importance for the future development?

2) Do you think that democracy will be a viable option in Egypt and Tunisia after the revolutionary spring in the Arab world settles down?

Authors provided the answers during May 2011.
Plakát freestylee.

Poznámka: Odpovědi na otázku, co je přehlíženým faktorem protestů, jsou často velmi zajímavé. Autoři zmiňují roli odborů, místních komunit, seniorních členů protestního hnutí (ne tedy jen mladí lidé na Twitteru), růst patriotismu atd.