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After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure
  • Level Foundation
  • Course by University of Copenhagen
  • Offered by

About

Learn why the hope and excitement of the Arab Spring is gone, why so many Arab states are falling apart, why the youth are so frustrated, why there are so many refugees, and what can be done about it. The so-called Arab Spring appeared to end decades of exceptionalism and bring the Arab world back into the mainstream of global developments. The rebellions promised the return of politics and the reassertion of popular sovereignty against their corrupt and geriatric leaders. Much hope and flowery language greeted the young men and women who deposed their leaders and tried to build new, better societies. Today, the Arab world is in deep crisis. Of the 22 member states of the Arab League, at least five have essentially collapsed: Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Syria exist only in name today, as their territories have fallen to competing, murderous armed groups. In the remaining countries, the old autocracies have reasserted themselves. The repression at home is now worsened by regional conflict on an unprecedented scale, and the resulting frustration has led to the biggest refugee flows in recent memory. What went wrong? This course offers an overview of the structural shortcomings of Arab states and societies, which help us understand why the democratic awakening did not happen but instead “has given way to civil wars, ethnic, sectarian and regional divisions and the reassertion of absolutism.” This raises the obvious and renewed question whether there is something inherent in the Arab, and by analogy Muslim, condition that makes them special. Does this condition make this part of the world impervious to generally observable trends towards greater accountability, popular participation in political decision-making, greater generation and fairer division of economic wealth? Join this course to find out!

Modules

1a. Broken Societies and an Aborted Democratic Awakening

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Broken Societies and an Aborted Awakening

1 Discussions

  • Broken Societies and an Aborted Awakening

1 Videos

  • 1a. Broken Societies and an Aborted Democratic Awakening

1b. The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility

1 Discussions

  • The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility

1 Videos

  • 1b. The Arab Exception: Critical Reason and Responsibility

1c. Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaption

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaption

1 Discussions

  • Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaptation

1 Videos

  • 1c. Relativism and Reality: The Price of Inadaption

1d. Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons

1 Discussions

  • Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons

1 Videos

  • 1d. Physical Elections and Necessary Comparisons

Readings for module 1

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 1

2a. Missing the Boat to the 'Third Wave' of Democratisation

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Missing the Boat to the 'Third Wave' of Democratisation

1 Discussions

  • Missing the ‘Third Wave’ of Democratisation

1 Videos

  • 2a. Missing the Boat to the 'Third Wave' of Democratisation

2b. The Authoritarian Social Contract and the Absence of Politics

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Authoritarian Social Contract and the Absence of Politics

1 Discussions

  • The Authoritarian Social Contract

1 Videos

  • 2b. The Authoritarian Social Contract and the Absence of Politics

2c. Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

1 Discussions

  • Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

1 Videos

  • 2c. Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

2d. The Absence of Politics: Fear, Stability, Institutional Decay, and Polarising Elections

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Absence of Politics: Fear, Stability, Institutional Decay, and Polarising Elections

1 Discussions

  • The Absence of Politics

1 Videos

  • 2d. The Absence of Politics: Fear, Stability, Institutional Decay, and Polarising Elections

Readings for module 2

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 2

3a. The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority

1 Discussions

  • The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority

1 Videos

  • 3a. The Necessity of Politics: Power and Authority

3b. The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness

1 Discussions

  • The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness

1 Videos

  • 3b. The Miracle of Politics: Accountability and Effectiveness

3c. Contestation of Models: Is 'Good Governance' a Western or an Islamic Idea?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Contestation of Models: Is 'Good Governance' a Western or an Islamic Idea?

1 Discussions

  • ‘Good Governance’: A Western or an Islamic Ideal?

1 Videos

  • 3c. Contestation of Models: Is 'Good Governance' a Western or an Islamic Idea?

3d. Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards

1 Discussions

  • Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards

1 Videos

  • 3d. Contingency, Trajectories and Performance Standards

Readings for module 3

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 3

4a. Material Base of Discontent

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Material Base of Discontent

1 Discussions

  • Material Base of Discontent

1 Videos

  • 4a. Material Base of Discontent

4b. Labour Market: Insiders and Outsiders

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Labor Market: Insiders and Outsiders

1 Discussions

  • Labour Market: Insiders and Outsiders

1 Videos

  • 4b. Labour Market: Insiders and Outsiders

4c. Law, Institutions and Economic Performance

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Law, Institutions and Economic Performance

1 Discussions

  • Law, Institutions and Economic Performance

1 Videos

  • 4c. Law, Institutions and Economic Performance

4d. Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking: Living on Borrowed Time

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking: Living on Borrowed Time

1 Discussions

  • Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking

1 Videos

  • 4d. Trade, Productivity and Rent Seeking: Living on Borrowed Time

Readings for module 4

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 4

5a. Structural Changes and Normative Resistance

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Structural Changes and Normative Resistance

1 Discussions

  • Structural Changes and Normative Resistance

1 Videos

  • 5a. Structural Changes and Normative Resistance

5b. Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking

1 Discussions

  • Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking

1 Videos

  • 5b. Family Values: Conformity and Critical Thinking

5c. Demographics and the Youth Bulge

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Demographics and the Youth Bulge

1 Discussions

  • Demographics and Youth Bulge

1 Videos

  • 5c. Demographics and the Youth Bulge

5d. Science and Education: Producing, Disseminating and Using knowledge

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Science and Education: Producing, Disseminating and Using knowledge

1 Discussions

  • Science and Education: Producing and Using Knowledge

1 Videos

  • 5d. Science and Education: Producing, Disseminating and Using knowledge

Readings for module 5

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 5

6a. The Persistence of Foolish Ideas

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Persistence of Foolish Ideas

1 Discussions

  • The Persistence of Foolish Ideas

1 Videos

  • 6a. The Persistence of Foolish Ideas

6b. Taking Responsibility

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Taking Responsibility

1 Discussions

  • Taking Responsibility

1 Videos

  • 6b. Taking Responsibility

6c. Addressing Structural Failures

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Addressing Structural Failures

1 Discussions

  • Addressing Structural Failures

1 Videos

  • 6c. Addressing Structural Failures

6d. Bracing for Trouble

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Bracing for Trouble

1 Discussions

  • Bracing for Trouble

1 Videos

  • 6d. Bracing for Trouble

Readings for module 6

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Readings for module 6

Auto Summary

Explore the aftermath of the Arab Spring in "After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure," a Coursera course in Personal Development. Guided by experts, understand the collapse of several Arab states, the frustration of youth, and the refugee crisis. Analyze why democratic aspirations fell short and what structural issues hindered progress. Ideal for foundational learners, with flexible subscription options available.

Dr. Ebrahim Afsah
Instructor

Dr. Ebrahim Afsah