A Look Back at The 2011 Arab Revolts The Last Wave of Democratization, A Function of Capitalism, or A Challenge to Neoliberalism? A Multi-Factor Analysis

Abstract

: The 2011 Arab revolts have often been explained in a somewhat reductionist manner as the last chapter of Huntington’s democratization waves and a celebrated march toward secular-liberal democracy, or as part of a world-wide revolt against neo-liberal capitalism, or simply as a function of the global expansion of capitalism. Rather than reducing these complex events to a single overarching factors, this article argues instead that they are better understood with reference to an interplay between global developments (chan-ges in the international politico-military context) and local politico-economic, psychological, and cultural influences. I demonstrate this argument by focusing, from a macro-sociological perspective, on the major political-economic, technological, cultural, and psychological factors that helped shape the Arab revolts. These include people’s reactions to inequality, lack of economic opportunities, and their demand for economic justice on the one hand, and their more general aspirations for social and political liberties and justice on the other. The article also addresses the impact of information and communications technologies (ICTs) on social mobilization and of religion on individual and political culture, and it further argues that these factors were complemented by people’s search for dignity ( karama ) in the face of frustration with oppression as well as neoliberal social and economic policies.