History 397AS - ST- Arab Spring/Arab Winter

In 2011, a wave of protest and revolt swept across much of the Middle East and North Africa, a phenomenon that has sometimes been referred to as the "Arab Awakening," and more commonly as the "Arab Spring." It can be argued that from the beginning, the terms of discourse have been sodden with old orientalist fictions of a timeless (Arab) East. The "Arab Spring" recalls an abnormally drawn out winter in much the same way that the "Arab Awakening" recalls an unnaturally protracted sleep. As the early optimism of the uprisings faded, some observers have asked whether "spring" is not simply the next phase of winter. In this course, we will explore a range of prominent themes in this present Middle East "moment," using an historical lens to correct myopic visions of winters and springs.

Open to Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores only.