The Arab Winter

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The Arab Spring aimed to end dictatorship and promote self-governance across the Middle East, but outside Tunisia, it often resulted in renewed dictatorship, civil war, or extremist terror. Noah Feldman argues that this period was not a complete failure; rather, it was a significant, albeit tragic, moment where Arabic-speaking peoples engaged in collective political action for self-determination. By examining the Egyptian revolution, the Syrian civil war, the rise and fall of ISIS, and Tunisia's quest for Islamic constitutionalism, Feldman offers a unique perspective on the political aftermath of the Arab Spring. He highlights the reaffirmation of pan-Arab identity, the decline of Arab nationalisms, and the collapse of political Islam with ISIS's defeat. Feldman counters the narrative that the Arab Spring was non-transformative and that Arabs are less capable of democracy. He emphasizes that the tragic outcomes should not overshadow the human significance of the Arab Spring. It marked a moment when people sought to reclaim their political agency, and while it did not lead to constitutional democracy or improved lives for many, the efforts made are historically and futuristically significant.