United States |  Latin America |  Middle East |  Analysis | 

:: Home ::

Print



Send


    
    About James Petras

    Latest Books

Newest book

James Petras, Henry Veltmeyer: "Power and Resistance: US Imperialism in Latin America"

Roots of the Arab Revolts and Premature Celebrations

03.03.2011 :: Middle East
Most accounts of the Arab revolts from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq and elsewhere have focused on the most immediate causes: political dictatorships, unemployment, repression and the wounding and killing of protestors.


They have given most attention to the “middle class”, young, educated activists, their communication via the internet, (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 16, 2011) and, in the case of Israel and its Zionists conspiracy theorists, “the hidden hand” of Islamic extremists (Daily Alert Feb. 25, 2011).

What is lacking is any attempt to provide a framework for the revolt which takes account of the large scale, long and medium term socio-economic structures as well as the immediate ‘detonators’ of political action. The scope and depth of the popular uprisings, as well as the diverse political and social forces which have entered into the conflicts, preclude any explanations which look at one dimension of the struggles.

Read essay [PDF]

                      
The Official James Petras Website
Blog: lahaine.org