Rivetti and Cavatorta (2021) Flashcards
Explain the transnational dimension of protests in the Arab Spring ?
Protests in the Middle East and North Africa (SWANA/MENA) have a transnational dimension, connecting local issues to larger, global concerns.
What are the roots of mobilization ?
Mobilizations in the SWANA/MENA region were sparked by various issues, including exclusionary sectarian politics, neoliberal policies, and local grievances such as access to resources.
What are some examples of local protests ?
Specific local protests, like the Amazigh protest in Morocco against a silver mine, highlight the connection between local and transnational issues.
Describe the anti-neoliberal shift of the protests.
Protests since 2013 have become more consciously anti-neoliberal, with a focus on issues like extractive capitalism and progressive taxation.
What is the role of feminist movements and intersectionality in these protests ?
Feminist movements and women’s strikes have played a crucial role in expanding the scope of protests, addressing issues like gender violence and patriarchy in the context of neoliberalism.
Issues of race, ethnicity, and discrimination are important factors in the protests, with parallels to global movements like Black Lives Matter and indigenous rights campaigns.
What are the counter-revolutionary strategies used by the movement ?
The counter-revolution in the SWANA/MENA region has taken various forms, including regime change, passive revolution, state repression, and foreign military intervention.
What is the impact of weak organizational capacity ?
Despite resilience, protest movements often face challenges due to weak organizational capacity, making them vulnerable to repression and competition from more organized groups.
How does grass root activism influence the movement ?
Grassroots activism is a prominent feature of the protests, facilitated by technology, but hindered by individualism, privatization of public spaces, and surveillance.
Why is it difficult to judge the success or failure of the uprisings ?
Assessing the uprisings in terms of success or failure is complex, and traditional metrics like institutional transition may not capture the deeper changes and challenges faced by these movements.
