What do we mean by the Arab Spring, and why did it occur (i.e. what are the underlying “structural causes”)? How do we explain the timing of the uprisings (i.e. what were the “precipitating causes”) and how do we explain the variability of outcomes? How have these events contributed to the unraveling of the regional order? Be specific. Are there reasons for optimism or is the future of the region bleak?
What do we mean by the Arab Spring, and why did it occur?
