What do you think?
Rate this book
The Arab Uprisings: What Everyone Needs to Know®
Employing an engaging question-and-answer format, The Arab Uprisings explores the revolutionary protests that have rocked the Arab world since late 2010. In this updated and revised second edition, James L. Gelvin explores the varied paths taken by the uprisings and assesses their historical and global significance. Gelvin begins with an overview-What were the conditions in the Arab world that led to the uprisings? Where did the demands for human and democratic rights and social and economic justice come from?-before turning to specific countries in the region. He examines how the long history of state-building in Tunisia and Egypt ultimately determined the paths taken by uprisings there. He explains why the weakness of state institutions in Libya and Yemen led to violence and chaos. He explores the commonalities of the "coup-proofed" states Bahrain and Syria and the tragic course of their uprisings. In the final chapter, he discusses the implications of the uprisings. What do
they mean for the United States, al-Qaeda, and the balance of power in the region? What do they say about the viability of the Arab state system? What effects have they had on the Israel-Palestine conflict? What conclusions might we draw from the uprisings so far? When will we know their historical meaning?
What Everyone Needs to Know ® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
they mean for the United States, al-Qaeda, and the balance of power in the region? What do they say about the viability of the Arab state system? What effects have they had on the Israel-Palestine conflict? What conclusions might we draw from the uprisings so far? When will we know their historical meaning?
What Everyone Needs to Know ® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
55 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
James L. Gelvin
14 books32 followersJames L. Gelvin is an American scholar of Middle Eastern history. He has been a faculty member in the department of history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) since 1995 and has written extensively on the history of the modern Middle East, with particular emphasis on nationalism and the social and cultural history of the modern Middle East.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 29, 2017
Let me attempt to write this review in the same way as this book is written (i.e., question-and-answer format):
Who is this book for and what is its purpose?
- This book is written by an American, Middle East history professor for an American/Western audience. The purpose of the book is to succinctly explain and relate the (ongoing) historical event known as the Arab Spring to the Western reader who has little-to-no knowledge of this event, the peoples affected by it, and the forces driving it.
Why is the Arab Spring important? What is its importance to Americans/Westerners?
- The Arab Spring is an event comprised of several popular revolutionary movements. Like in 1789, 1848, 1968, and 1989, it can be considered as a popular "wave" of unrest encompassing peoples of diverse backgrounds. The event is important for Americans to understand because it has and is redefining the nature of state-citizenry relationship in the Arab world, it is a rejection of the current global economic order, and it has drawn the US government into deeper involvement in the region.
How can you write a history book about something that is still happening?
- Good question. Although this book was written by a historian, it is not per se a history book, but a roundup of commonly asked questions about the Arab uprisings with answers provided by a great authority on Middle East history. This takes into account established facts about the uprisings until the publication of the book and the author himself admits that, by the time you've read it, some of the things in the book might have changed dramatically (i.e., Syria, Yemen).
If things have changed in the Middle East since the book was originally published, why should I bother reading it?
- First, the latest version of the book was published in 2015, meaning that we are at most one year removed from the author's latest edits. Second, while events in Syria, Yemen, and Libya have continued to unfold, other countries with popular uprisings (Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain) have either reined in the opposition forces or settled into stasis. Third, there is no doubting the author's credibility as an expert in the field and his ability to relate the events will be of great use to anyone looking to understand the seemingly complex nature of these conflicts.
Is this a good book?
- Yes.
Who is this book for and what is its purpose?
- This book is written by an American, Middle East history professor for an American/Western audience. The purpose of the book is to succinctly explain and relate the (ongoing) historical event known as the Arab Spring to the Western reader who has little-to-no knowledge of this event, the peoples affected by it, and the forces driving it.
Why is the Arab Spring important? What is its importance to Americans/Westerners?
- The Arab Spring is an event comprised of several popular revolutionary movements. Like in 1789, 1848, 1968, and 1989, it can be considered as a popular "wave" of unrest encompassing peoples of diverse backgrounds. The event is important for Americans to understand because it has and is redefining the nature of state-citizenry relationship in the Arab world, it is a rejection of the current global economic order, and it has drawn the US government into deeper involvement in the region.
How can you write a history book about something that is still happening?
- Good question. Although this book was written by a historian, it is not per se a history book, but a roundup of commonly asked questions about the Arab uprisings with answers provided by a great authority on Middle East history. This takes into account established facts about the uprisings until the publication of the book and the author himself admits that, by the time you've read it, some of the things in the book might have changed dramatically (i.e., Syria, Yemen).
If things have changed in the Middle East since the book was originally published, why should I bother reading it?
- First, the latest version of the book was published in 2015, meaning that we are at most one year removed from the author's latest edits. Second, while events in Syria, Yemen, and Libya have continued to unfold, other countries with popular uprisings (Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain) have either reined in the opposition forces or settled into stasis. Third, there is no doubting the author's credibility as an expert in the field and his ability to relate the events will be of great use to anyone looking to understand the seemingly complex nature of these conflicts.
Is this a good book?
- Yes.
December 17, 2013
James Gelvin clearly has incredible knowledge about the Middle East and about the Arab uprisings. I did learn quite a bit from reading this book, but I can attribute that mostly to preexisting (and large) gaps in my knowledge. Overall, this book was poorly researched and opinionated. The question-and-answer format leads the reader, instead of laying out timelines and facts in an unbiased fashion to inform him or her. Nearly all of Gelvin's cited resources are Websites, almost all accessed in a brief three-month period (a summer break in the academic calendar, perhaps?). In other places, especially in the final chapters, Gelvin repeatedly makes unsupported claims that lack citations entirely. This book makes a suitable basic introduction to the topic, but I would not recommend it for academic research or for readers with more than a cursory understanding of the Middle East conflicts and uprisings.
December 10, 2012
A good resource/briefing, and as timely as a paper book can get.
Conclusion #1: "Uprisings are extraordinary events, and being extraordinary they defy prediction."
Conclusion #1: "Uprisings are extraordinary events, and being extraordinary they defy prediction."
January 2, 2016
Used this book for a couple of times for assignments, informative, very good for research purpose and also increasing your knowledge about economic and political causes of the Arab spring.
September 1, 2021
Great read that could help one understand the Middle East and Northern Africa better.
December 29, 2018
A good book about the situation in the Arabic world before and during the revolutions.
The explanations about Syria and what happened here are really worthy to read.
The explanations about Syria and what happened here are really worthy to read.
September 4, 2012
It's short, it's packed with information, it's in a question & answer format... there's very little not to love. You will learn, whether you want to or not; and this should be required reading for journalists and editorialists. Okay, there are two things not to like: first, it's like reading 160 pages of wikileaks cables, albeit with only the important stuff left in. Second, he insists on calling middle eastern capitalists 'crony capitalists.' It's not clear to me how they're any different from our capitalists, other than being new arrivals to the system in which they get rich and millions of others do not. Different from perfect capitalism, yes; from actually existing capitalists, no. Is that important in the context of this book? Not at all. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2014
A great piece of concise literature which illuminates the nuanced complexity of movements too often generalized by the media. Written in a Q&A format, the answers are both richly informative and terse. This piece does a fantastic job at dispelling misconceptions and oversimplification of the events discussed, and is meticulously sectioned, providing for easy referencing.
January 5, 2013
Perfect--quick, concise, insightful, current. Read this in the next 6 months
November 24, 2017
worthless, don’t waste your time, this book is good for CNN puppets and people with lack of knowledge about Middle East, good for primary school report.
October 16, 2018
I believe I am the reader this book is intended for. I do not have much knowledge of Middle Eastern politics, nor do I know much history of the region. I can admit that my only knowledge comes from the occasional article/headline, but here's a lot I do not know. Even though this book is over 6 years old, there is a lot of good information here. It's easy to access with a nice question and answer format. It's somewhat basic, intended for a 101 level reader. I did learn a lot from this and enjoyed Gelvin's writing. There is so much here that he says succinctly that it's impressive.
The biggest disservice is how long ago this book was written. I would love a follow up book, or even more chapters. If you're wanting to start gaining knowledge of the Middle Eastern politics and history, this is a solid beginning. It whets the appetite and makes me want to know more. This book is not intended to be the end all be all for this subject. To me, it felt like an introduction.
Fair warning: I did have to get the audible and the hard copy. I started with the audible, but needed to see the words as they were being said so the written helped too. Us Americans aren't always familiar with the correct pronunciation of various words outside of basic English. a
The biggest disservice is how long ago this book was written. I would love a follow up book, or even more chapters. If you're wanting to start gaining knowledge of the Middle Eastern politics and history, this is a solid beginning. It whets the appetite and makes me want to know more. This book is not intended to be the end all be all for this subject. To me, it felt like an introduction.
Fair warning: I did have to get the audible and the hard copy. I started with the audible, but needed to see the words as they were being said so the written helped too. Us Americans aren't always familiar with the correct pronunciation of various words outside of basic English. a
March 30, 2022
A substantially insightful explainer to the Arab Spring that rocked the Middle East and Northern Africa in 2011. The book’s lucid Q&A format is not only easy to follow but also provides a deeper understanding of the sociopolitical upheavals that culminated in the regime changes in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt while causing quite a stir in Syria and its neighboring monarchies.
The analysis of the ethnoreligious identities and political intricacies of the Arab world is backed by well-researched facts. Professor James L. Gelvin is to be lauded for making this book engaging and enlightening for even the average reader who is interested in learning about the MENA region’s complex politics.
The analysis of the ethnoreligious identities and political intricacies of the Arab world is backed by well-researched facts. Professor James L. Gelvin is to be lauded for making this book engaging and enlightening for even the average reader who is interested in learning about the MENA region’s complex politics.
August 10, 2020
I had this book on the shelf as it was required reading for a Middle Eastern Studies course in college - thought I would come back to it and read again considering all that is and has been occurring in the Arab world but was severely disappointed. From a more leftist standpoint, this book missed the mark in many ways for me and had quite shallow analysis on the uprisings in the Arab world - I am in need of recommendations for a book on the topic with a leftist analysis so I can deepen my understanding of what has happened and is happening in the Middle East through that lens.
December 29, 2020
2.5/5
It’s an okay book; very easy to read, very short, quite scattered.
I don’t think I would go out of my way to recommend someone to read it as it’s quite outdated, and I don’t feel like enough research has been done about the topic. I also don’t feel as though the uprisings have been given justice with the way they’ve been talked about, it just appeared like the author was quickly glossing over them.
But to the authors credit, you can’t properly tackle a subject like this with less than 160 pages.
It’s an okay book; very easy to read, very short, quite scattered.
I don’t think I would go out of my way to recommend someone to read it as it’s quite outdated, and I don’t feel like enough research has been done about the topic. I also don’t feel as though the uprisings have been given justice with the way they’ve been talked about, it just appeared like the author was quickly glossing over them.
But to the authors credit, you can’t properly tackle a subject like this with less than 160 pages.
November 14, 2016
As a student with interest in politics this book gave me a great overview of what happened in the Arab uprisings and some explanations for them. For any beginner on this subject this book is a must read.
December 26, 2018
It is a very easy read. It doesnt go into incredible debt and the format of the book is pretty easy to follow. Gelvin writes basic questions and then answers them. Great book to read to start learning about the Arab Uprisings. But definitely not the ONLY book you should read about it.
February 16, 2022
2.5 really. It’s ho-hum. More of a filler. Some interesting details, the background stuff taking place I guess. It doesn’t hold a candle to the real-time drama of those actually doing the deeds. But yeah the background.
Informative, learnt things, also not my field.
Informative, learnt things, also not my field.
March 19, 2017
good if you want somewhere to start understanding the topic. It also avoids simplistic explanations to the diferent questions it raises.
May 29, 2019
A bit out of date now but a good jumping off point!
August 22, 2019
Anybody who wants to read about the arab spring,start with this book.
August 29, 2022
Well written, but very basic. Really only helpful if you know nothing about the Arab Spring and Middle Eastern politics at large
May 5, 2025
Very broad and general.
September 15, 2017
Read as much of this as I could (page 98 of 158), but the Q&A format killed it for me. Guess my search for a decent book on this topic will continue.
February 25, 2024
Eh. I think I need more exhaustive and niche books, not all the Arab Springs covered at once. I understand what theyre trying to do and why, but the scope is too broad to try to use this narrow thesis as a history. I wanted more depth and less spread, but the economics of top heavy class system (not enough working class to provide for the non producing upper classes) is interesting, ..and terrifying because I can see it happening.
June 5, 2012
Gelvin’s The Modern Middle East: A History has been incredibly helpful to me in understanding how the modern world has shaped the Middle East. Modern concepts of progress, state power, and economics have all made a big impact, coming together in what has been called the “interventionist-redistributionist” model that prescribes a government that actively manages the economy and an extensive welfare state. Gelvin believes that the major factor in the Arab uprisings has been their governments’ revisions of this model through opening up markets and reducing welfare expenditures. These reforms reflect the influence of neoliberalism, in vogue since the reforms of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and others.
The book is formatted as a Q&A, covering both the region in general and the specific countries where the uprisings have occurred. Gelvin is a talented writer with a good sense of humor, and the book is quite informative. He will probably need to come out with future editions of it as things change in the region.
The book is formatted as a Q&A, covering both the region in general and the specific countries where the uprisings have occurred. Gelvin is a talented writer with a good sense of humor, and the book is quite informative. He will probably need to come out with future editions of it as things change in the region.
June 17, 2012
This is a useful introduction to the history and politics of the region. Covered in a question-and-answer format that makes it pretty easy to read and absorb. While academic in tone (not surprisingly), this brief exploration is not overly weighed-down with footnotes and references. It's nice that most of these references are on the Web.
If you're looking for a way to start understanding what's happening in Egypt, Syria, Libya and the other Arab countries living through uprisings, this is the book. You'll also learn more about US foreign policy too.
If you're looking for a way to start understanding what's happening in Egypt, Syria, Libya and the other Arab countries living through uprisings, this is the book. You'll also learn more about US foreign policy too.
September 4, 2012
I was required to read this book for a course I'm taking before we attend our first class. It was easy and informative. I read it in 3 days, as well as took notes and highlighted to refer back to later.
I'm not a fan of the question & answer format in any book, and this was no exception. It seemed to me that in some of the questions, it was almost impossible to find what the answer was. I had to re-read those sections multiple times in order to find what the whole point was for my notes.
Overall, it wasn't bad and for required "summer" reading, I didn't mind it at all.
I'm not a fan of the question & answer format in any book, and this was no exception. It seemed to me that in some of the questions, it was almost impossible to find what the answer was. I had to re-read those sections multiple times in order to find what the whole point was for my notes.
Overall, it wasn't bad and for required "summer" reading, I didn't mind it at all.
March 14, 2015
Great insight into the very complex Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. A country-by-country FAQ that manages to avoid being overly dry. The only downside to this book is that it came out before the uprising of the Islamic State, which is very much an elephant in the room throughout, so to speak. However, if you're curious about the uprisings and its differences in each country, the has very good information on the events and historical significance. Worth the read for those who are not yet experts in MENA.
August 9, 2016
Reading this book 5 years after the Uprisings is strange but still useful. Gelvin uses a Q and A format to give background on the uprisings, explore why they unfolded as they did, how they differed and why. He also provides some analysis on US policy before and during the uprisings. The book is written for readers with minimal background in the region, very accessible for students, I would think.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews