Reviews

The New Arab Wars: Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East by Marc Lynch

misspalah's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

2.0

American policy will always matter in a region deeply shaped by the legacy of its imperium, of course, but there is no reason to believe that a more assertive American posture would have made a positive difference in the unfolding politics of the Arab uprisings. It is easier to blame Barack Obama's weakness for Syria's catastrophe than to examine the contributions of a diverse range of actors to the radicalization and fragmentation of an externally-fueled, ill-conceived insurgency. It is easier to accuse Obama of failing to lead on Egypt than to assess the domestic and regional drivers of Cairo's hotly contested politics. But that doesn't make the critique correct. The failure of the 2003 occupation of Iraq, which so deeply informed Obama's approach to the use of military force in the region, should have fully revealed the limitations of American power. One of the most commonly repeated mantras in Washington has been that "everything which opponents of intervention in Syria warned would happen has happened anyway." These pundits refuse to notice that thousands of American troops are not dying while vainly patrolling the streets of Damascus. America's long policy of aligning with unsavory but cooperative regimes would become a crippling liability after the Arab uprising. A key vulnerability of the American imperium in the Middle East was the absence of any major ally which shared its fundamental values or goals. The assembly of kings, generals, and presidents-for-life which ruled American-allied regimes did not even make the pretense of valuing democracy, human rights, or liberal values. Their survival depended on heavy-handed repression, patronage disbursed through state and non-state channels, and, in some cases, electoral institutions designed to distribute resources among elites. Most depended heavily on the demonization of external and internal enemies to legitimate their rule Israel, Iran, Islamists, and Amer-ica. This challenge has only become more acute as America's putative allies spiral in ever more violent and repressive directions.

• The New Arab Wars : Uprisings and Anarchy in the middle east by Marc Lynch

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"The New Arab Wars: Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East" by Marc Lynch offers a detailed examination of the Arab Spring uprisings that unfolded across the Middle East from 2010 onwards. The book consists of nine chapters, each addressing different aspects of the region's upheaval. I don’t think I will elaborate much on this book because I am expecting something new, but it was nowhere to be found. Majority of the arguments are pretty exhaustive and can be found in other books. For those who are well-versed in Arab Spring Uprisings and wanted to read more analysis or takes from the history experts, I believe you may skip this one. This book, in my opinion, is not engaging at all which is why i took more than one week to finish it. And Obama Administration is not really the innocent one – sure the predecessors of Obama has been instigating war in Middle Eastern much worse than he is but he is also is not a saint in this prolonged conflicts in these regions. While the book offers nothing new (at least to me), it did enlighten how and why majority of Arab countries seeks to normalise the relationships with Israhell and demonising Houthis in ensuring Peace in Yemen. Yet, here we are in 2024, Houthis are among those trying to stop the genocide in Gaza and while Saudi Arabia and others being a complicit, sit idly seeing muslim country being slaughtered by the Zionists. The summary for each chapter has been provided below :  ‘The introduction’ provides an overview of the Arab Spring and outlines their significance in the Middle East. It sets the stage for the subsequent chapters by highlighting the key themes and arguments of the book. ‘The Roots of the Uprisings’ chapter explores the underlying causes, including political, economic, and social factors that led to the Arab Spring uprisings. It examines popular discontent and the desire for change of the countries that experienced the uprisings. ‘The Trajectories of the Uprisings’ chapter aim to investigate the varied paths and outcomes of the uprisings in different countries. It also delves the factors that shaped the trajectories of the uprisings, including state responses, external interventions, and regional dynamics.

‘The International Response’ chapter managed to examine how the international community, including the US, EU, and regional powers, responded to the uprisings. ‘Tunisia’ chapter focuses on Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began, and explores the country's transition to democracy. It highlights the challenges and achievements of Tunisia's democratic experiment and its implications for the wider region. ‘Egypt’ chapter examines the trajectory of the Egyptian uprising and its subsequent transformation into a counterrevolution. It delves the role of the military, political elites, and external actors in shaping Egypt's post-uprising political landscape.  ‘Syria: From Uprising to Civil War’ chapter explores the evolution of the Syrian uprising into a full-blown civil war. It examines the complex dynamics of the conflict, including the role of the Assad regime, opposition groups, and external actors. ‘Iraq, Libya, and Yemen’ chapter focuses on the cases of Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, where the uprisings led to state collapse and fragmentation. It explores the factors that contributed to the breakdown of state institutions and the emergence of multiple armed factions. ‘Conclusion’ chapter summarizes the main arguments and findings of the book. It reflects on the broader implications of the Arab Spring uprisings for the Middle East and the international community. Overall, the book offers valuable insights into the complexities of the Arab Spring and its aftermath, making it essential reading for policymakers, scholars, and those interested in the Middle East's contemporary challenges.

alexabarca's review

Even though this was mandatory reading for one of my classes this semester, I still it extremely interesting and well written. Lynch does a great job at addressing the various causes and consequences of the 2011 Arab Spring when applied to war in the region. Even though it's an academic book, the writing doesn't feel academic whatsoever and is easily accessible (i.e. not overly dry), meaning if you're someone interested in learning more about the Arab Spring's impact on war in the Middle East and North Africa, I'd highly recommend it.