On the Complexity of the Revolts in the Arab Countries

• Published in: Cultures & conflits no. 85-86; pp. 187 - 212
• Main Author: Messari, Nizar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: 01-04-2012
• Subjects: Arab Countries; Expenditures; Mobilization; Opportunity Structures; Politics; Rebellions
• ISSN: 1157-996X

In order to understand the changes in the Arab World during 2011, I analyze in this article the events through some theoretical models which objective is to explain social and popular mobilizations. My objective is first to provide a key to understand these events, and then to analyze the impact of these mobilizations on the existing theoretical models. Two interrelated questions have to be answered here: why have the population of several Arab countries mobilized in 2011? Why did they do so almost simultaneously? From a theoretical point of view, there are two sets of conceptual explanations: on the one hand, the existence of political opportunity structures which would have paved the way for further changes, on the other hand, a network of events, not necessarily linked but mutually influencing each other, which evolution impacts the evolution of events in other countries. The Arab revolts show that speaking of structures of political opportunities privileges the structure at the expense of agency, whereas agency played a key role in these events. A revision and adaptation of this theoretical model is hence necessary. Adapted from the source document.