The Arab Spring brought optimism about the prospect of democratization in the region. However, transition toward democracy was often violent, prompting concerns about the price of freedom. While Egypt and Tunisia underwent smooth and relatively peaceful transition in ousting autocratic regimes, both Libya and Syria were devastated by violent confrontations. This Book examines four claimed prerequisites for peaceful transitions: the existence of civil society, degree of economic disparity, military loyalty to the regime, and the utilization of social media. A comparative country analysis is...
The Arab Spring brought optimism about the prospect of democratization in the region. However, transition toward democracy was often violent, promptin...