After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/after-the-arab-spring

Introduction

### Course Recommendation: After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure #### Overview The course "After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure," available on Coursera, provides an in-depth analysis of the aftermath of the Arab Spring—a pivotal moment in recent history that brought hope for political reform and democratic governance to the Middle East and North Africa. However, as the title suggests, this hope has waned in the face of ongoing instability, institutional failures, and widespread disillusionment among the youth. This course seeks to explore the reasons behind this decline, the factors contributing to state failure, and to discuss potential paths towards recovery and renewal. #### Course Syllabus Breakdown The course is structured around several critical themes that each examine a distinct aspect of the ongoing challenges faced by Arab states post-rebellion: 1. **Instability and Institutional Failure**: This module scrutinizes historical mistakes made over previous decades that paved the way for the recent unrest. Students will learn how these issues have contributed to ineffective political systems that starkly contrast with more progressive global developments. 2. **Governance**: This section is crucial for understanding the governance structures within the Arab world. It discusses the concept of “rents” — income derived from natural resources that allow governments to maintain power without citizen engagement. The course highlights the implications of this failure to establish a tax-paying citizenry that can hold their leaders accountable. 3. **Institutions**: Students will delve into the formation and evolution of social institutions, which are critical for understanding how societies evolve. This module drives home the point of how institutions influence behavior and societal stability, as well as why their decline matters significantly in the context of state failure. 4. **Economics: Bread, Dignity and Freedom**: This section connects economic realities to the social unrest that has plagued the region. The course addresses the unsustainable nature of state welfare promises amid rising populations and dwindling revenues, emphasizing the economic roots of popular discontent. 5. **Human Development: Growth and Frustration**: Here, the course explores the transformative effects of rapid population growth on social norms and conflict. It argues that educational and research systems in the Arab region have not kept pace with these changes, which has exacerbated frustration among the youth. 6. **Outlook: Elusive Stability**: The final module weaves together previous themes to present a sobering forecast of the challenges that Arab societies must confront to restore stability and address the deep-rooted causes of discontent. #### Review The course is well-structured, combining comprehensive readings, video lectures, and discussion forums that encourage a critical engagement with the materials. It offers a balanced mix of theoretical frameworks and real-world case studies, making the complexities of the Arab Spring and its aftermath accessible to learners from all backgrounds. One of the strengths of this course is its ability to synthesize various perspectives on the Arab Spring. It encourages students to think critically about governance, economics, and social structures and how they intertwine to shape the future of the region. The inclusion of recent events and ongoing conflicts provides an up-to-date lens through which to examine these issues. However, the course does present a somewhat pessimistic outlook at times. While the challenges discussed are undoubtedly daunting, it would enhance the learning experience to feature potential success stories or examples of resilience within the region. #### Recommendation If you are interested in Middle Eastern politics, international relations, or social development, this course is highly recommended. It provides indispensable insights into the dynamics that have reshaped the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring. Whether you are a student, a professional in a related field, or someone seeking to understand global democratic movements, this course is an essential resource that will deepen your understanding of both the aspirations and challenges facing the region. Enroll today on Coursera, and engage with an academic community that seeks not only to understand these complex issues but also to envision paths toward a more stable and democratic future for Arab states.

Syllabus

Instability and Institutional Failure

In this section, you will become acquainted with some of the mistakes that were made in the decades prior to the outbreak of the recent Arab rebellions. These shortcomings have led to stunted and underperforming political systems, much at variance with developments elsewhere.

At the heart of most of the enduring problems plaguing the Arab world is the availability of essentially free income flowing to the governments of the region. These ‘rents’ have sustained a repressive arrangement in which citizens pay little or no taxes and have no voice.

Social action inevitably produces institutions, namely values, stable, repeated patterns of behaviour. In this section, you will learn what institutions are, how they come about, how their relative effectiveness is measures, how and why they decline, and why all that matters.

This section deals with the material bases of popular discontent, especially the connection between the states’ explicit promises of delivering welfare that have become increasingly unsustainable in the face of exploding population growth and falling revenues.

Structural changes beyond anyone’s control lead to different ways of living and, thus, value changes. With explosive population growth, social institutions have not kept up and norms are contested, often violently. Arab education and research especially have underperformed.

Tying together some of the structural shortcomings that have produced the dysfunction that drove the Arab rebellions, this section casts a somewhat gloomy picture about the formidable tasks ahead if these societies want to redress the causes of discontent and return to stability.