Loved Egyptian Night: The Meaning of the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring was not a revolution, but rather a series of uprisings with misunderstood beginnings that resulted in political instability and outside interference. The long oppression of these societies is not going to be ended by the Western powers, but rather guaranteed by them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 27 February 2024
Publisher: Verso Books

Loved Egyptian Night is a groundbreaking work that fundamentally reassesses the Arab Spring, challenging the narratives propagated by Western powers to the global audience. Undoubtedly, the overthrow of Tunisian President Ben Ali in January 2011 marked a significant political revolution. However, it is crucial to recognize that the uprisings in Egypt, Libya, and Syria, despite their distinct histories and political traditions, did not constitute revolutions. As Hugh Roberts elucidates, the bitter outcomes of these episodes were etched in their misunderstood origins. To label these uprisings as revolutions prematurely hinders critical analysis and abdicates intellectual responsibility.

After years of misplaced optimism, what remains is the debris of a cynical pretension. The external interference, purportedly in support of these revolutions, has reduced Libya to anarchy and condemned Syria to a devastating proxy war, now in its twelfth year. In Egypt, the Free Officers' state was re-established in its most brutal form. The Americans and Europeans, in their attempts to assist the Egyptians and others seeking to escape authoritarian rule, failed miserably. Instead, they conspired to entrap these societies within their oppressive frameworks. The long-standing oppression of these societies, reminiscent of Kipling's beloved "Egyptian Night," is not going to be eradicated by the Western powers. Rather, it is now guaranteed by them.

This book serves as a stark reminder that the Arab Spring was not a universal phenomenon, and the outcomes vary greatly across different countries. It highlights the need for nuanced and context-specific analysis of these events, rather than resorting to simplistic narratives or labels. Loved Egyptian Night encourages readers to challenge their assumptions and engage in a deeper understanding of the complex political, social, and economic dynamics that shape the Middle East and beyond.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839768835