The Arab Spring: Democracy, Globalization, and US International Relations

This module was made possible through the generosity of the Qatar Foundation International.

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Overview

During 2010 and 2011 a series of uprisings across the Middle East were collectively referred to as the “Arab Spring.” The events both individually and collectively drew comparisons to previous events in world history. References to the American, French, and Haitian revolutions, as well as the 1848 Revolutions, Prague Spring, Iranian Revolution and series of anti-Soviet revolts in the late 1980’s all sought to provide context and clarity to what was happening.

But the Arab Spring was different from those precedents rendering each comparison inadequate as historical isomorphs. First, the Arab Spring didn’t happen solely within the Western tradition nor in a single nation. Second, the Arab Spring was a 21st Century phenomenon happening during an unprecedented level of inter-connectedness fueled by contemporary globalization. Lastly, the United States in 2010-2011, unlike previous eras, was a geo-politcal hegemon.

In his work America’s War for the Greater Middle East, scholar Andrew Bacevich argues that the Arab Spring was disruptive to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. “the longstanding U.S. practice of paying lip service to democracy while accommodating autocratic monarchs and presidents-for-life appeared increasingly untenable. The costs associated with hypocrisy were rising.” The resources in this module help students and teachers make meaning of the complexity regarding the U.S’s relationship to the Arab Spring. Furthermore, the Arab Spring itself takes center stage allowing students to flesh out the nexus of themes of this module – Globalization, Democracy, and International Relations

Scholar Presentation

Scholar Screencast, by Dr. Peter Mandaville

Recording: 15 Minutes
“Our television screens in late 2010 and early 2011 were filled with images of ordinary citizens coming out in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen…pouring out into the streets to demand change for their countries. And everything seemed hopeful… For many people these events seemed to come out of nowhere. They seemed almost to be spontaneous. But in fact there was a much larger story going on here.”

C3 Inquiries relevant to this module

Note: We suggest adding primary and secondary sources found in this module to the C3 Inquiries below. Doing so will add a dimension of "how to globalize U.S. history?" not found in the original design.

TBD

Secondary Resources

Primary Resources

Lessons Designed using reources in this module

Activity A: In response to essential question #2, students engage in a group jigsaw activity using selected resources from this module (and others as you see fit).

- Hook: Prepare students to discuss EQ #2 by viewing the following video: https://www.ted.com/talks/dalia_mogahed_the_attitudes_that_sparked_arab_spring
- Resources Each group will explore primary sources discussing the revolutions in the Middle East. As they investigate, they should complete their graphic organizers (see below) and should be prepared to teach their fellow students about their findings. Please choose 3 of the following.

Graphic Organizer: https://goo.gl/zX9Mc2 — Feel free to download and modify.

*This activity was developed by teacher contributor, Andrew Mills.

Activity B: In response to essential question #4, select one topic (democracy, human rights, or capitalism) as your focus for your digital timeline. Your timeline will highlight events that support your topic’s response to how globalization promoted its development.

Create a digital timeline using Sutori (www.sutori.com) or another similar digital tool.
Include the following resources provided in this module:

- - 1-2 Video Clips
  - 5-6 Images
  - 4 Quotes
  - 2 Maps

Features: Your timeline should have 12-15 items on it. At the end compose a thesis statement in response to the essential question, based on what you compiled in your timeline.

*This activity was developed by teacher contributor, Samantha Reynolds Baranyk.