The Arab Uprisings Explained: New Contentious Politics in the Middle East

Published by Colombia University Press in 2014, this book presents works of the top Middle East political scientists to explain the eruption, dynamics, actors, and future of the Arab uprisings. The chapters explore the waves of the Arab Springs across the Middle East, and each bases on theoretical and comparative perspective. In his introductory chapter, Marc Lynch explains historical background of the Arab Springs from the causes and actors to the responses and reforms (p.1-2). Lynch gives a short plan and aim of the book, which is summed in three main headlines: (1) reviews the political science literature concerning to factors of regime change and contentious politics; (2) compares the Arab upheavals with those of other regions3; (3) explores affects of actors, sectors and structural forces on the politics of the region (p. 3).