The Fires of Spring: A Post-Arab Spring Journey Through the Turbulent New Middle East - Tunisia, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt by Shelly Culbertson

by Shelly Culbertson

Many have forgotten that the "Arab Spring" all started with a young Tunisian man who set himself on fire in protest of a demeaning slap to the face by a government official adding injury to the insult of having his apples, his livelihood, confiscated without cause. The aftermath of that one personal protest grew to become the international protest movement known as The Arab Spring.

This book will be the first to bring the post-Arab Spring world to light in a holistic context.
Shelly Culbertson, a former U.S. State Department officer who lived, studied, and traveled abroad in the Middle East for over 15 years, is uniquely equipped to analyze the current social, political, economic, and cultural effects of the movement. With honesty, empathy, and expert historical accuracy, Culbertson strives to answer the questions "what is it like there now," and "what is likely next to come?"

The Fires of Spring tells the story by weaving together a sense of place, history, insight about key issues of our time, and personal stories and adventures. It navigates street life and peers into ministries, mosques, and women's worlds. It delves into what Arab Spring optimism was about, and at the same time sheds light on the pain and dysfunction that continues to plague some parts of the region.

Genres: Middle East, Tunisia, Nonfiction, Travel, Egypt, History, Africa

Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Shelly Culbertson is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Her research focus includes international development, education, innovation policy, and the Middle East. She is currently conducting research about urban services and education for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon. She is also co-leading a multi-year effort to advise the Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq on improving its K-12 and vocational education systems. She coordinated RAND's project to design programs for the Qatar National Research Fund, which has supported over $620 million in research grants. Prior to RAND, she worked at the U.S. State Department on the Turkey Desk, and at LMI Government Consulting, conducting analysis about international trade. She has written OpEds for CNN.com, U.S. News and World Report, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and other news outlets. She received a B.S. in mathematics and political science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree from the Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Reviews

[Hoolia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of six Middle Eastern states in the aftermath of the Arab Spring protests. The missing states are notable (Libya, Algeria, Iran, Syria, etc), but the profiles of political figures and public intellectuals provide a view of the Middle East not seen in American media. Culbertson is not the best writer, but she did her homework and sought out a nuanced picture of each country, and pointedly sought to give voice to Middle Eastern citizens as opposed to posing herself as the Civilized Western Reporter in the midst of "barbaric" (read: non-Christian) cultures. Four stars just for providing a picture that many reporters have been too caught up with their own resumes to provide.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one great package with a wide array of views and inside looks to the countries surrounding the Arab Spring narratives. Reading it feels like traveling through the desert and war-torn countries. Understanding what really happened, starting from its history and the Ottoman and Islam historical influences, as well as the Western ideals and influences, just broaden the context of understanding the narratives.
This is truly a great feast of knowledge.

[Alaa Al-Bishbishi]

عنوان الكتاب: حرائق الربيع: رحلة ما بعد الربيع العربي عبر الشرق الأوسط المضطرب الجديد- تونس، تركيا، العراق، الأردن، قطر، مصر
المؤلف: شيلي كولبيرتسون
الناشر: سانت مارنت برس
تاريخ الإصدار: 18 أبريل 2016
عدد الصفحات: 384
اللغة: الإنجليزية

متسلحة بانخراطها في شؤون الشرق الأوسط لعقدين من الزمان بموجب عملها في وزارة الخارجية الأمريكية، إلى جانب كونها محللة سياسية في مؤسسة راند؛ وجدت شيلي كولبيرتسون أنها مؤهلة لتحليل الآثار الاجتماعية والاقتصادية والثقافية لما اصطُلِح على تسميته بـ "الربيع العربي"، ساعيةً للإجابة على أسئلة من قبيل: ما الذي أدى إلى الربيع العربي؟ وما هي الاتجاهات اللاحقة التي تشكل مستقبل الشرق الأوسط؟
النتيجة التي خرجت بها أودعتها كتابها الجديد: "حرائق الربيع: رحلة ما بعد الربيع العربي عبر شرق أوسط مضطرب جديد- تونس، تركيا، العراق، الأردن، قطر، مصر" الصادر عن دار نشر سانت مارنت برس، يوم 18 أبريل 2016، في 384 صفحة، باللغة الإنجليزية.
في "حرائق الربيع"، تمزج المؤلفة بين أحاسيس المكان، وعبق التاريخ، وسبر أغوار القضايا الرئيسية المعاصرة، والقصص الشخصية، والمغامرات.. إبحارٌ عبر الشوارع، وإطلالة على قلب الوزارات، وداخل المساجد، وفي عوالم المرأة.. غوصٌ في دواعي تفاؤل الربيع العربي، وتسليط للضوء في الوقت ذاته على الألم والخلل الذي لا تزال تعاني منه بعض أجزاء من المنطقة.
في البدء كانت المؤلفة تعتقد بأن موجة المظاهرات والاحتجاجات المعروفة باسم الربيع العربي أدت إلى تغيير بنّاء قليل نسبيًا في الشرق الأوسط. لذلك قررت أن تجري تحقيقًا عن كثب، يمزج بين مذكرات السفر والتقارير والتحليلات، ويستكشف ما جرى في ست دول: تونس، تركيا، العراق، الأردن، قطر، مصر، تمثل مناطق مختلفة في الشرق الأوسط، وتقدم تجارب متنوعة من الربيع العربي.
عندما اندلعت الانتفاضات أول مرة قبل أكثر من خمس سنوات، خطف الربيع العربي أنظار العالم، وسلط الضوء على مشكلات المنطقة: ارتفاع معدلات البطالة، وضعف التعليم، وفي بعض الحالات، الحكومات الاستبدادية. وفي أعقاب الاحتجاجات، تبددت آمال المواطنين إلى حد كبير عندما لم يتحقق التغيير الهائل، وأعقب ذلك حالة من الفوضى في بعض الدول بعد الإطاحة بالحكومات واندلاع الحروب الأهلية.
بدأ الربيع العربي عندما أشعل بائع الفاكهة التونسي الشاب النار في نفسه احتجاجا على مصادرة مسئول حكومي تفاحه دون سبب وصفعه على وجهه. وتفاقمت تداعيات هذا الاحتجاج الفرديّ، ليصبح حركة شرق أوسطية عرفت باسم "الربيع العربي"؛ وهي عبارة عن موجة من الأحداث المختلفة شملت ثورات واحتجاجات وإطاحة بحكومات وحركات إصلاح مفعمة بالأمل وحروب أهلية دامية.
ولإجراء الأبحاث التي يحتاجها الكتاب، سافرت المؤلفة إلى تونس وتركيا والعراق والأردن وقطر ومصر، وهي البلدان التي اختارتها لأن كلا منها يوفر إطلالة فريدة على الربيع العربي. وفي حين أطيح بحكومات في بعض البلدان، أدت الاحتجاجات إلى تغييرات تدريجية داخل الهياكل الحكومية في دول أخرى. حتى تلك الدول التي لم تشهد احتجاجات كبيرة، كان حضورها مهما لتكتمل الصورة؛ سواء من حيث السياق السياسي والأمني الذي وفرته، أو الدبلوماسية التي اتبعتها، أو الكيفية التي صُوِّرَت بها في وسائل الإعلام.
تقول شيلي: "بعد التحدث مع الناس في أنحاء الشرق الأوسط التي كانت مركزية بشكل ما في أحداث الربيع العربي، توصلتُ إلى نتيجة مفادها أن الربيع العربي بدأ للتو. فالمرحلة الأولى من الربيع العربي كانت حول الاعتراض على الوضع القائم، والمرحلة الثانية من الربيع العربي سوف تتكشف على مدى العقود المقبلة، في عمليات تدريجية من العمل اليومي لبناء المؤسسات وخلق القيم الاجتماعية الجديدة".
ولاحظت المؤلفة أن بقية العالم غالبا ما ينظر إلى الشرق الأوسط عبر تقارير وسائل الإعلام عن العنف الدائر هناك. ومن خلال كتابها الأول، تقول إنها تحاول تقديم صورة واقعية عن المنطقة، ودراسة مختلفة لأحداث الربيع العربي من خلال عدسة أوسع للتاريخ. إذ تحلل التغييرات العميقة الجارية في الشرق الأوسط، مع تسليط الضوء على العديد من القصص الإنسانية واستكشاف التحديات المحتملة التي تلوح في الأفق: تحسين فرص الشباب، والتفاوض حول دور الدين في المجتمع، وزيادة المشاركة الديمقراطية.
وتضيف كولبيرتسون: "دول الشرق الأوسط غير الغارقة في الحرب الأهلية تقوم بعملية صياغة رؤيتها المستقبلية الخاصة. هذه العملية تتعلق بالأجيال، وتتطلب استثمارا في التعليم، ونقاشًا عامًا حول القيم المجتمعية، والعقود الاجتماعية الجديدة، أو الدساتير، وتطوير المؤسسات".

(نُشِرَ هذا العرض على موقع مركز إدراك للدراسات والاستشارات في عام 2016، ومتاح على الرابط التالي https://idraksy.net/fire-of-spring-sh...، كما نُشِرَ على موقع "العالم بالعربية"؛ أول منصة عربية متخصصة في رصد وتحليل اتجاهات الصحف ومراكز الأبحاث والإصدارات العالمية)

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelly Culbertson's "The Fires of Spring: A Post-Arab Spring Journey Through the Turbulent New Middle East" takes readers on a captivating journey through six Middle Eastern countries in the immediate aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings. It's not just a travelogue; Culbertson weaves together her personal experiences on the ground with historical context, interviews with key figures, and insightful analysis of the social, political, and economic realities of the region. The book's central focus is to provide a holistic understanding of a complex and rapidly changing landscape.

Culbertson delves into the legacy of the Arab Spring, exploring the initial hopes and aspirations that fueled the uprisings. She doesn't shy away from the disillusionment that set in as the realities of political transformation unfolded. The book highlights the diversity of experiences across the region, where the Arab Spring played out differently in each country, with varying degrees of success, violence, and political change.

A core strength of "The Fires of Spring" is its unflinching portrayal of the challenges and uncertainties that continue to plague the Middle East. Sectarian violence, economic hardship, and the rise of authoritarianism are all laid bare. But Culbertson doesn't stop there. By interweaving personal narratives with political analysis, she offers a deeper understanding of the human impact of these events. We encounter the stories of ordinary people struggling to navigate a new and uncertain future.

Culbertson's experience as a scholar and former State Department official provides valuable insights into the region's complexities. The comprehensive scope of the book, covering six diverse countries, offers a broader perspective on the Arab Spring's far-reaching impact. Importantly, Culbertson avoids presenting a simplistic narrative. She acknowledges both the initial optimism of the uprisings and the setbacks that followed, creating a balanced and nuanced account.

While the book cannot capture the full spectrum of the Arab Spring given its focus on six countries, and while it may not reflect the most recent developments published in 2016, "The Fires of Spring" remains a valuable resource for understanding the lasting impact of this pivotal moment in the Middle East's history. By combining personal experiences and insightful analysis, Culbertson provides a window into a region in flux, offering a deeper appreciation for the ongoing struggles and the uncertain path that lies ahead.

[Ricardo FP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good survey of Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, plus other middle-eastern islamic countries. Personally, I think the most decisive travels are the first and last chapters, but all are important to try to arrive to a self-contained scope of the life after 2011 events in the islamic world. Good starting point to look for something more specific.

[Benjaminxjackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Fires of Spring" provides a view from the ground of six countries in the Middle East in a way that we can't get from news stories. The author has had time to dig into the history and the people shaping the events today.

It is presented as a travelogue, though one that is not necessarily chronological. There are what I can only describe as 'postcards' from the various countries describing what she sees as she moves around. (I now know a lot about what is sold in shops in all these countries.)

One of the most important lessons I learned from this book was how diverse the experiences and perspectives are in the Middle East, which is often presented as a monolith. Tunisia was one of the most interesting countries to me because of the way it had largely managed to avoid the violence and convulsions that some of the other countries faced. Maybe there are lessons for everyone in how to promote largely peaceful political change.

The book is a snapshot in time, so things have already changed since it was published. ISIS is no longer the force it was when the book was written. Also, the question of whether Turkey would become more active against the Kurds seems to be answered by the headlines.

My one critique of the book is that I wanted more analysis from the author herself, since she had moved through all of these countries and talked to all of these people. Her reporting on the borders of the countries and whether part of the modern-day problems comes from colonial boundaries was interesting and presented some new information, but Culbertson never came down on an answer.

Full disclosure, Culbertson and I were college classmates, so I know that she is capable of great analysis. But that may make me an unfair reader, because it is asking a lot of anyone if we demand definitive conclusions on very fluid situations.

That said, people who want to understand what is going on in the Middle East should read this book. It is an important guide to many of the currents that are shaping our world today.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read.

It's hard to tell what kind of book this is: part history, part political analysis, part travel writing, Culbertson does a splendid job encapsulating each country's revolution, and crystallizing their individual situation and political/social/economic landscape. It's like she's taken a map of the region and colored it in multiple dimensions.

This book is the second in a row to suggest that "Arab Spring" might be a misnomer; whereas Shirin Ebadi's "Until We Are Free" makes this claim as an opinion, Culbertson backs it up with a tremendous amount of data and evidence. She also includes commentary from multiple sources so as to get a more holistic picture, which is pretty cool.

The transitions from country to country were organic, and the overarching point of the entire area was maintained throughout, so the only issue I really had is that the book was so densely packed with information, and my ADHD-addled brain had a difficult time digesting it, and thus had to read it very slowly. 4.5 stars.

ETA: whoops! forgot to mention that I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. It was very much an uncorrected proof.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I won a copy of this book in the Goodreads giveaway program.

Awesome book! The author gives a great outlook at the differences that occurred in the 6 countries. She interviews people on different sides of the political sides. She does all this without showing any of her own bias. I wish the American media was this open and honest in its reporting.
This book gives hope that extremist ideology can be defeated.
I believe it also gives insight into why the 2016 U.S. Presidential race is so much different than previous campaigns. The two party system, like the autocratic regimes of the "Arab Spring" countries has forgotten to include ALL people, and the people are starting to rise up. Hopefully the U.S. "spring" will stay at the ballot box.

[Ms. Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...

This was a solid, informative read that was well-thought out, well-organized, and well-written. The author interviews multiple people across the middle east, and manages to pack a ton of knowledge and information into this book, without through into any of her personal opinions.

That being said, this book did become a snooze-fest after several chapters. It became harder and harder for me to finish the further I went into it. It became boring and dull, and by the time I reached the end I was glad to have this "mission" over with.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was convinced that I would give this book just two stars through the time I was reading it. The first few chapters I read were an unbalanced mix of research and travelogue - as if the author didn't know which of these two she wanted the book to be. But then in the last half the research emerges as the clear winner and the statistics and thoughts from people interviewed provided interesting information and historical facts.

[Danielle Cecchine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelly Culbertson travels through a region in the aftershocks of upheaval and change. She paints a picture of time and place, of political history alongside personal recollections. Part travelogue, part current events in the wake of historical tremors, 'The Fires of Spring' is comparative culture writing at its finest.

[Resalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broken up into chapters focused on several countries (Qatar, Tunisia, Iraq etc) Culbertson interviews the populace to better understand the causes and ramifications of the Arab Spring movement in each country. Some chapters are written better than others, perhaps in part due to the author's familiarity with each region. I learned a lot by reading this book.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I won a copy of this book in the Goodreads giveaway program.

Excellent review of The Arab Spring events. Thoughtful and concise.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just found out I won this in the giveaway and I can't wait to receive it! I'll update my review when I do.

[Mills College Library]

909.09749 C9672 2016