Revolts and the Military in the Arab Spring: Popular Uprisings and the Politics of Repression (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

"Through detailed exploration of events in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen, Sean Burns here breaks down the concept of professionalism within the armed forces into its component parts and demonstrates how variation in military structures determines their behaviour. In so doing, and by emphasising historical context and drawing on a wide range of political science theory, Burns sheds fresh light onto the ways in which military structure affects the potential for democratic transition or the course of civil war. With this book he presented a wide-ranging study of the Middle East which provides key tools to understanding the opportunities for democratisation, both during the Arab Spring and beyond, and which is therefore essential reading for anyone working on the Middle East, popular uprisings and the politics of repression."--Bloomsbury Publishing. The Arab Spring, which swept across the Middle East between 2010 and 2012, demonstrated the extent to which military structure and decision-making determine whether peaceful uprisings lead to democratisation, renewed authoritarianism, collapse or civil war. Through detailed exploration of events in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen, Sean Burns here breaks down the concept of professionalism within the armed forces into its component parts and demonstrates how variation in military structures determines their behaviour. In so doing, and by emphasising historical context and drawing on a wide range of political science theory, Burns sheds fresh light onto the ways in which military structure affects the potential for democratic transition or the course of civil war. With this book he presented a wide-ranging study of the Middle East which provides key tools to understanding the opportunities for democratisation, both during the Arab Spring and beyond, and which is therefore essential reading for anyone working on the Middle East, popular uprisings and the politics of repression.-- Provided by Publisher "As ISIS seeks to expand its reach in the Middle East, its territory serves as a base for training and operations for a new generation of jihadis. Thousands of young people from the West, primarily from Europe, have travelled to join ISIS, re-emerging as hardened fighters with military training and a network of international contacts. Many of these have now returned to their homelands, where it is feared they are planning a new series of brutal attacks. Peter R. Neumann here explains the phenomenon of the 'new jihadis', and shows why the threat of terrorism in the West is greater than ever before. Based on interviews and previously-unseen material, Neumann provides an essential introduction to one of the greatest crises of our time." Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Men with Guns Chapter 3. Iran: A Sultanistic Military Chapter 4. Tunisia: A Professional Military Chapter 5. Egypt: An Institutionalized/Corporate Military Chapter 6. Bahrain: A Ruler/Mercenary Military Chapter 7. Libya: A Factionalized Military Chapter 8. Syria: A Factionalized Military Chapter 9. Yemen: A Factional Military Chapter 10. Extensions and Complications Bibliography.