Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Project #2: Arab Spring Final Paper - Due on Monday, April 7



Our final paper is due at our course blog for Monday, April 7. No exceptions. 


First, pose a specific question about the Arab Spring of interest to YOU.

Second, do some research and find at least SIX sources. After initial reading, craft a ONE SENTENCE thesis that answers your question, focusing on at least three different Arab Spring countries.

Finally, continue researching and craft an 8 paragraph multimedia paper (a paragraph = 5-7 sentences) posted as a STAND-ALONE post (with a sexy title) on our course blog, in which you articulate and defend your FINAL one sentence thesis focused on a specific aspect of the Arab Spring in the Middle East across at least 3 different Arab Spring countries.

Sample Question: Has the Arab Spring movement led to more democracy in the Arab Middle East?

Sample Thesis: "The Arab Spring has led to a democratic revolution in the 21st century Middle East, ushering an era of new and positive political changes in Egypt, Algeria, and Libya."

To earn an A, your paper must:

1. Have a specific THESIS statement, grounded in TIME and PLACE, in your opening paragraph.

2. Consist of 8 paragraphs of between 5-7 sentences each.

3. Contain no grammar, spelling, or mechanical errors.

4. Be illustrated with AT LEAST one photo or video embed for EACH paragraph.

5. Provide AT LEAST one direct quotation from AT LEAST SIX different sources (you may include our 3 class texts) for EACH of your 8 paragraphs. Use research and texts to support your conclusions!

6. Focus on AT LEAST 3 specific Arab Spring countries.

7. Be presented with confidence in class (excerpted sections.)

Yalla - go Arab Spring'ers, go!

31 comments:

  1. How has the withdraw of the U.S. Military across various Arab countries affected the region?

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  2. I would like to do something on JSOC but don't have an exact question, so suggestions are more than welcome. Perhaps, how was JSOC used in the Arab Spring?

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  4. I'd like to focus my research on the women of the Arab Spring. To narrow this down, I'm interested in looking into the first two countries of the Arab Spring, Tunisia and Egypt.

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  5. I would like to research the topic of the evolution of art throughout the arab spring. Specifically focusing on three artists from different countries in the Arab world and the different forms of art they use to express their view of the arab spring.

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  6. I'd like to focus on street art and how it has helped push revolution during the arab spring.

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  7. POST your TOPIC, BIG QUESTION and SIX SOURCES HERE by Thursday, Feb 13. Yalla.

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  8. Q: How does the history of the Muslim Brotherhood affect the Arab Uprisings?

    A: The Muslim Brotherhood plays a suggestible yet integral part in the Arab Spring, including a particular and questionable role in the political uprisings of Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain?

    Muslim Brotherhood Sources
    1. cnn.com/2013/07/03/world/africa/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-explainer/index.html
    2. www.ikhwanweb.com/
    3. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/the-muslim-brotherhood-in-america/
    4. , Kareem. "Egypt, Dealing a Blow to the Mulsim Brotherhood, Deems It a Terrorist Group." New York times [New York City] 25 Dec. 2013: n. pag. Print.
    5. Fahim, Kareem. "The Muslim Brotherhood, Back in Afight to Survive." New York Times [New York] 5 Jan. 2014: n. pag. Print.
    6. Kirkpatrick, David. "Egyptian Court Shuts Down the Muslim Brotherhood and Seizes Its Assets." New York Times [New York] 23 Sept. 2013: n. pag. Print.
    7. Remnick, David. "Days of Rage." The New Yorker 28 Aug. 2013: n. pag. Print.

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  9. Topic:

    Social Media and the Arab Spring

    Big Question:

    In what ways has social media play an instrumental role in the Arab Spring movement?

    Sources:

    Grey, Garland. "The First Anniversary of the Arab Spring Uprisings: Social Media on Both Sides of Protest." Culture Map. N.p., 17 Jan. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
    Khalil, Joe F., Ph.D. "After the Arab Spring, Could Twitter Liberate Television?" Al Arabiya News. N.p., 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
    Lindsey, Richard A. "What the Arab Spring Tells Us About the Future of Social Media in Revolutionary Movements." Small Wars Journal. N.p., 29 July 2013. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
    Pfeifle, Mark. "Changing the Face(book) of Social Activism." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 June 2012. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
    "Social Media." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.
    Tapscott, Don. "Social Media Can Help Build Arab Governments Too." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 May 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

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  10. I would like to focus my research on the children of the Arab Spring. After taking my human rights course last semester, I was specifially interested in childrens rights and I would like to look more into what being a child is like in the Arab World, specifially during the Arab Spring. I have not narrowed down which countries I'd like to focus on yet.

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  11. Question: The role of social media in Arab Spring?

    Thesis: In the 21st century revolution will most likely not be televised like in the past, but rather it will be tweeted, blogged, and organized on Facebook.

    Sources:

    Donnell, Catherine . "New study quantifies use of social media in Arab Spring." UW Today. N.p., 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 9 Feb. 2014. .

    Lindsey, Richard . "What the Arab Spring Tells Us About the Future of Social Media in Revolutionary Movements." Small Wars Journal. Small Wars Journal, 29 July 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .

    Tapscott, Don. "Social Media Can Help Build Arab Governments Too." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 May 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .

    Lever, Rob. ".:Middle East Online::Arab Spring: Did social media really spark revolutions?:.." .:Middle East Online::Arab Spring: Did social media really spark revolutions?:.. N.p., 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .

    Eaton, Tim, Paolo Gerbouda, Mohammed Moussa, Marc Jones, and Juilette Harkin. "The role of social media in the arab uprisings - past and present." Wesministers Papers in Communication and Culture 9.2 (2013): 65. Print.

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  12. I want to focus on the PLO the Palestinian Liberal Organization.

    Question: What role did the PLO have in the Arab Spring?

    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mepo.12035/abstract

    http://www.opendemocracy.net/nicolai-due-gundersen/jordan%E2%80%99s-crossroads-in-arab-spring

    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/plo.html

    http://www.merip.org/palestine-israel_primer/plo-un242-pal-isr-primer.html

    http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/49825/william-b-quandt/revolution-until-victory-the-politics-and-history-of-the-plo

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGC_hHii1jo

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  13. Topic:
    Music in the Arab Spring

    Question:
    In what ways has music played a role in the Arab Spring, specifically among the Arab youth?

    Sources:
    http://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/rap-rai-rock-and-revolution-the-role-of-music-in-the-arab-spring

    http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/06/09/137067390/the-rap-songs-of-the-arab-spring

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14146243

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=446R5aiZeWU

    http://www.jtmp.org/jtmp/taxonomy/term/115

    http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=32339&lan=en&sp=0

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  14. Topic: Us Armed Forces in The Arab Spring

    Question: Has The United States Military been a positive or negative impact during the Arab Spring? Have we been helpful or caused more harm throughout the middle east?

    Sources:
    1,http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/has-obama-properly-handled-the-arab-spring
    2.http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/SR011/FINAL_LSE_IDEAS__UnitedStatesAndTheArabSpring_Kitchen.pdf
    3.https://csis.org/files/publication/TWQ_13Spring_Kahl-Lynch.pdf
    4.http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144799401/is-the-arab-spring-good-or-bad-for-the-u-s
    5.http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/25/opinion/schneider-the-square/
    6.http://www.mei.edu/content/arab-spring-implications-us-policy-and-interests

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  15. Topic: Women in the Arab Spring
    Question: In what ways were women influential in the Tunisian, Egyptian, and Libyan uprisings?
    Sources:
    Beardsley, Eleanor. “In Tunisia, Women Play Equal Role in Revolution.” NPR. 27 January 2011. Web. 12 February 2014. .
    Giacomo, Carol. “Women Fight to Define the Arab Spring.” New York Times. 10 November 2012. Web. 12 February 2014. .
    Saidi, Nasser. “The Real Arab Spring is about Women and Economic Development.” Al-Bawaba. 12 February 2014. Web. 12 February 2014. .
    Johansson-Nogués, Elisabeth. “Gendering the Arab Spring? Rights and (in)security of Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan Women.” Security Dialogue October – December 2013, 44:393. Web. 12 February 2014. .
    Arshad, Shazia. “The Arab Spring: What did it do for Women?” Middle East Monitor. 25 March 2013. Web. 12 February 2014. .
    Labidi, Mehrezia. “Tunisia’s Women are at the Heart of its Revolution.” The Guardian. 23 March 2013. Web. 12 February 2014. .

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  16. Topic:
    Communications in the Arab Spring

    Question:
    In what ways has Twitter played a role in communications in the Arab Spring countries of Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria?

    Sources:

    http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/09/utilising-twitter-track-political-polarisation-egypt-201392714215315617.html

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/colin-delany/how-social-media-accelera_b_821497.html

    http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0408/On-Facebook-and-Twitter-spreading-revolution-in-Syria

    http://middleeastvoices.voanews.com/2012/06/syria-a-war-reported-by-citizen-journalists-social-media-41863/

    http://www.dailydot.com/politics/syria-civil-social-media-war-youtube/

    http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/14/the_first_twitter_revolution

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  17. My topic is going to be political reforms after the Arab Spring.
    What are the changes being implemented in Arab Spring countries? What are their expected success or failures?
    "Tunisia: Old Order 'Remnants' Flex Muscle in Tunisian Politics." Asia News MonitorAug 23 2013. ProQuest. Web. Feb. 2014 .
    EGYPT: New Constitution Will Face Legitimacy Concerns. Oxford: Oxford Analytica Ltd, 2013. ProQuest. Web. Feb. 2014.
    "Latest News." National Dialogue Conference. N.p., n.d. Web. Feb. 2014.
    "Egypt: The Not so Bad Constitution." Kashmir TimesDec 29 2012. ProQuest. Web. Feb. 2014 .
    "Federal Region Defining Committee: Yemen Will Have Six Regions | Yemen Times." Yemen Times. N.p., n.d. Web. Feb. 2014.
    "Yemeni Factions Hold National Dialogue." - Middle East. N.p., n.d. Web. Feb. 2014.

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  18. Topic: Economics of the Arab Spring
    Q: What role did economics have in precipitating the Arab Spring?
    Sources:
    -The Precarious Economics of Arab Springs – Robert Springborg,
    -Egypt: Local Elections See Low Turnout; Other Development – World News Digest
    -The World in Figures: Egypt – The Economist
    -The Economics of the Arab Spring – Richard Javad Heydarian
    -The ‘Arab Spring’ : Socioeconomic Aspects – Onn Winkler
    -Economic Fallout of the Arab Uprisings - MEED

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  19. Topic: U.S. Military withdrawal

    Question: How has the withdraw of the U.S. Military across various Arab countries affected the region?

    Sources:
    - http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/10/geopolitical-changes-caused-by-the-arab-spring.html#
    - http://www.mei.edu/content/arab-spring-implications-us-policy-and-interests
    - http://csis.org/files/publication/120702_Iraq_After_US_Withdrawal.pdf
    - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/uspolicy/
    - http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/The-Arab-Spring-and-the-Future-of-US-Interests/2011/8/2
    - Power vacume in the middle east lifts militants - the New York Times- Ben Hubbard, Robert F. Worth, and Michael R. Gordon

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  20. Post your 1 SENTENCE THESIS STAEMENT HERE by spring break. Yalla.

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  21. The new generations of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya in the 21st Century have used their passions for change as well as the technology at their disposal to try and create the better future that they themselves envision.

    “The Arab Spring was described as a youth rebellion: a social uprising led by youths that brought down the regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya”





    1. James Gelvin, The Arab Uprisings: What Everyone Needs To Know. (New York: Oxford, 2012).
    2. Wael Ghonim. Revolution 2.0: The Power of the People is Greater than the People in Power. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2012).
    3. Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren. The Battle for The Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution, and the Making of a New Era. (New Haven: Yale, 2012).
    4. http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/25/opinion/hellyer-egypt-revolution-three-years-on/
    5. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/01/egypt-regime-brotherhood-youth-referendum.html#
    6. http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/tunisia-celebrates-and-struggles-to-change/
    7. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/africa/tunisian-b-boys-biggest-battle-keeping-youths-from-extremism.html?_r=0
    8. http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2014/01/libya-free-expression/
    9. http://www.dw.de/a-womans-world-in-post-revolution-libya/a-17437029
    10. http://unitedexplanations.org/english/2014/02/06/the-arab-youth-after-the-arab-spring/#

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  23. Topic: Business and the Arab Spring

    How has the Arab Spring affected businesses?

    Sources:

    http://www.economist.com/node/21546018

    http://www.businessinsider.com/has-the-arab-spring-failed-2013-7

    http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/24/business/davos-unrest-of-arab-spring-sparked-innovation/

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/business/global/after-the-arab-spring-a-rush-to-do-business-in-the-middle-east.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

    http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/13/investing-middle-east-north-africa/

    http://business.financialpost.com/2012/04/16/arab-spring-warms-business-climate/

    Thesis:

    The Arab Spring brought change among the Arabian culture, which brought better business Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, but it is also having negative effects.

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  24. Can a revolution succeed in Syria, and will it be up to the international community to aid it?

    With the ongoing issue in Syria, can the violence come to an end if their is U.S aid?

    http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/09/2011923115735281764.html
    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/syrian-civil-war/story?id=20112311
    http://sarabiany.wordpress.com/tag/syrian-revolution-solidarity/
    http://rationalinsurgent.com/category/syria/
    http://www.meforum.org/3529/assad-syria-revolution
    http://www.fpa.org/features/index.cfm?act=feature&announcement_id=113

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  26. Women played an important, yet understated, role in the Tunisian, Egyptian, and Libyan revolutions during the 21st century Arab Spring.

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  28. Since the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2010, transformations of art have occurred in Tunisia, Yemen, and Algeria.

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  29. Since 2011 Twitter transformed communication in the Arab Spring countries of Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria.

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  30. Since the start of the revolution against Hosni Mubarak in 2011, street art has been an integral part of getting the peoples opinions seen. Just like many other creative outlets, public art has always been a part of history within the urban culture.

    http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/11/graffiti-boom-in-cairo-reflects-the-mood-on-the-egyptian-street/

    http://wallsoffreedom.com/

    http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/galleries/egyptian-street-art-from-the-revolution-until-now.html

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/08/world/meast/cairo-street-art/

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  31. I will research the way the Western world is portrayed by Arab media, and compare and contrast that to the way the Arab world is portrayed by Western media.

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