Overview
Examines the motivation behind the actions of civil groups during the Arab Spring
Highlights the methods used by civil groups to challenge the state and the government, using case studies to suggest the limits of civilian action
Challenges the view of strong civil tradition within the Arab world, suggests steps required for the lasting success of democracy
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book investigates the role of society groups in the making of the Arab Spring and under which conditions they attained their goals. Democracy and recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms seem to be the main drives of the people organized in form of civil groups or grassroots movements in the Arab Spring countries; but it is essential to identify when they find it suitable to take such extreme action as taking the streets in an attempt to take down the repressive regimes. It is also important to investigate what methods they relied on in their action and how they challenged the state and the government. A review of the cases in this volume shows that civil society has certain limitations in its action. Analysis of the cases also challenges a commonly held assumption that the Arab world does not have strong and rich civil society tradition. However, for a lasting success and consolidation of democracy, something more than civil society action is obviously needed. A strong organized opposition and a democratic culture seems to be indispensable elements for the evolution of a democratic order and tradition.
Reviews
“This book is a particularly timely and important contribution to the study of contemporary problems in the Middle East and North Africa. Its point of view stresses the role of civil society amidst political chaos and repression, seen from very varied and interesting contexts ranging from the role of women’s movements to playing soccer. It will be of great use to scholars and commentators who want to make a rounded assessment of the region’s lack of political order and uncertain future.” (Richard Langhorne, Professorial Fellow, Division of Global Affairs, Rutgers University, USA)
Editors and Affiliations
About the editor
Cenap Çakmak is Professor of International Law and Politics at Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Turkey, and Senior Researcher at Wise Men Center for Strategic Research, Turkey. He previously conducted research at the TMC Asser Institute, Netherlands, and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Germany, and is currently Visiting Scholar at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Sweden. His most recent publications include Post-Conflict Syrian State and Nation Building (2015), Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia (2016), and A Brief History of International Criminal Law (2016).
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Arab Spring, Civil Society, and Innovative Activism
Editors: Cenap Çakmak
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57177-9
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Political Science and International Studies, Political Science and International Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-57176-2Published: 09 December 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-57177-9Published: 09 December 2016
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 257
Number of Illustrations: 4 illustrations in colour
Topics: Middle Eastern Politics, Political History, African Politics, Democracy