Arab Spring, Libyan Winter
by Vijay Prashad /
2012 / English / EPUB
3.2 MB Download
The Arab Spring captivated the planet. Mass action overthrew
Tunisia’s Ben Ali and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. The revolutionary
wave spread to the far corners of the Arab world, from Morocco
to Bahrain. It seemed as if all the authoritarian states would
finally be freed, even those of the Arabian Peninsula. People’s
power had produced this wave, and continued to ride it out.
The Arab Spring captivated the planet. Mass action overthrew
Tunisia’s Ben Ali and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. The revolutionary
wave spread to the far corners of the Arab world, from Morocco
to Bahrain. It seemed as if all the authoritarian states would
finally be freed, even those of the Arabian Peninsula. People’s
power had produced this wave, and continued to ride it out.
In Libya, though, the new world order had different ideas.
Social forces opposed to Muammar Qaddafi had begun to rebel,
but they were weak. In came the French and the United States,
with promises of glory. A deal followed with the Saudis, who
then sent in their own forces to cut down the Bahraini
revolution, and NATO began its assault, ushering in a Libyan
Winter that cast its shadow over the Arab Spring.
In Libya, though, the new world order had different ideas.
Social forces opposed to Muammar Qaddafi had begun to rebel,
but they were weak. In came the French and the United States,
with promises of glory. A deal followed with the Saudis, who
then sent in their own forces to cut down the Bahraini
revolution, and NATO began its assault, ushering in a Libyan
Winter that cast its shadow over the Arab Spring.
This brief, timely analysis situates the assault on Libya in
the context of the winds of revolt that swept through the
Middle East in the Spring of 2011. Vijay Prashad explores the
recent history of the Qaddafi regime, the social forces who
opposed him, and the role of the United Nations, NATO, and the
rest of the world's superpowers in the bloody civil war that
ensued.
This brief, timely analysis situates the assault on Libya in
the context of the winds of revolt that swept through the
Middle East in the Spring of 2011. Vijay Prashad explores the
recent history of the Qaddafi regime, the social forces who
opposed him, and the role of the United Nations, NATO, and the
rest of the world's superpowers in the bloody civil war that
ensued.Vijay Prashad
Vijay Prashad is the George and Martha Kellner Chair of
South Asian History, and professor and director of
international studies at Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books,
including
is the George and Martha Kellner Chair of
South Asian History, and professor and director of
international studies at Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books,
includingKarma of Brown Folk
Karma of Brown Folk and, most recently,
and, most recently,The
Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World
The
Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World.
.