Taking to the Streets

Abstract

This edited volume consists of ten case studies framed by an introduction written by the two editors and a postscript written by Larry Diamond, a leading scholar of democracy studies today. The Introduction, which places the volume within the tradition of political sociology and political science, relates explicitly to the study of contentious politics and social movements. In doing so, it contributes to a trend in Middle Eastern studies that started during the early 2000s in analyses of Islamism and that seeks to add insights to a field that has so far been relatively neglectful of the Middle Eastern context. The book promises to “illuminate the concept of activism as an ongoing process, rather than a sudden burst of defiance” (back cover) by critically examining the ideas that the Arab Spring emerged “from nowhere” and was driven by “tech-savvy, disgruntled youth” (p. 2). It sets out to explore the nature of activism before, during, and after the uprisings, as well as how the ...