The Age of Counter-Revolution
States and Revolutions in the Middle East

Examines the Arab Spring, seen as a series counter-revolutions, rather than failed revolutions, in six Arab countries.

Jamie Allinson (Author)

9781108735520, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 May 2022

302 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 2 cm, 0.56 kg

'This is historical sociology at its very best. Allinson utilises Marxist concepts to offer us a theoretically rich, forensic investigation of the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Libya, and Yemen. The Age of Counterrevolution carefully documents how these revolutionary movements were defeated by the combined efforts of the armies, the states, the elites, and the regional and international hegemons who conspired against them. It suits the powerful that their central role in smashing revolutions and movements for a better future remains hidden in the shadows; Allinson instead shines a glaring headlight straight at them. And yet one of the main messages of this book leaves us with hope for the future: that neither the success nor failure of revolutions is predetermined; better outcomes were achievable, another world was possible - and will be again.' Mandy Turner, University of Manchester

The 'Arab Spring' has come to symbolise defeated hopes for democracy and social justice in the Middle East. In this book, Jamie Allinson demonstrates how these defeats were far from inevitable. Rather than conceptualising the 'Arab Spring' as a series of failed revolutions, Allinson argues it is better understood as a series of successful counter-revolutions. By comparing the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen, this book shows how these profoundly revolutionary situations were overturned by counter-revolutions. Placing the fate of the Arab uprisings in a global context, Allinson reveals how counter-revolutions rely on popular support and cross borders to forge international alliances. By connecting the Arab uprisings to the decade of global protest that followed them, this innovative work demonstrates how new forms of counter-revolution have rendered it near impossible to implement political change without first enacting fundamental social transformation.

1. Introduction: Another world was possible?
2. What is counter-revolution?
3. The revolutionary situations
4. Political revolutions and counter-revolutions: Tunisia and Egypt
5. Militarising counter-revolution: Syria and Bahrain
6. From revolution to state collapse: Libya and Yemen
7. Revolutionary states? Isis and Rojava
8. Conclusion: Where is counter-revolution going?

Subject Areas: Revolutionary groups & movements [JPWQ], Demonstrations & protest movements [JPWF], Comparative politics [JPB], Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions [HBTV]