Lynch, M. (2013). The Arab uprising: The unfinished revolutions of the new Middle East. Hachette UK.
The author’s central research question is to determine the significance of the early regional protests and mass mobilization and how they have influenced politics in the current era. The author argues that even during the cold war in the 1950s, many people rose to protest against the unfavorable regimes. They used various technologies like radio broadcasts to channel their protests. They ensured that the governments that the people opposed finally fell. But, some fell due to military coups. Lynch proceeds by stating that the primary reason for the protest was the demand for Arab unity. However, it is argued that most of those protests never led to a longer-lasting transition. They note that each demonstration and mass mobilization only ended in authoritarian state rule.
As a result, the Arab politics up to date have been based on the authoritarian rule structures that were developed to calm the cold war turbulence. Surprisingly, turbulence has had a significant influence even in the current governments. It has led to various protests due to the failure of peace negotiations. The evidence seems convincing because the early demonstrations provided the guides for the coming periods of mobilized public and highly transnational media. For example, the coming of the internet and information technology like satellite television overpowered the state-dominated media. This work is essential as it enables the audience to know how the earlier mass mobilization and protests have influenced the current regimes in the Arab countries. Additionally, it allows the audience to note how the Arabs demanded independence from the colonial powers.