CIAO Focus, May 2012: The Arab Spring and the West

This month's Focus features the international dimension of the Arab spring.

'The Arab spring is a transition away from the long alliance between the West and the moderate Arab states, as well as a transition of these states from being more or less passive clients of the US and the West to more or less vibrant democracies with an assertive agenda in the region. The Western countries, while in principle welcoming the possibility of new democracies emerging in the region, reaped enormous advantage from their association with the previous regimes and do not seem prepared to deal with the new democracies' more assertive agenda. But, as Western countries will be unable and unwilling to oppose this agenda, they should proceed with reshuffling their international objectives and policies to make a dialogue with these new democracies possible.'

Read the article here or download directly from the International Spectator.

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Columbia International Affairs Online provides access to the literature of theory and research in international affairs. CIAO incorporates the following:
  

• working papers
• journals
• books
• policy briefs
• case studies
• course packs
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In addition, each month CIAO publishes a Focus piece, dealing with a specific topic.

Past CIAO foci can be found in the archive.