Will Riots in the Middle East Lead to Political Reform?

Writing at Foreign Policy, Marc Lynch, discusses the lasting impact of recent riots across the Middle East. Despite government crackdowns on the media and the internet, Arab regimes have been unable to control the narrative, forcing even “status quo media outlets” to cover the events and “entertain unsettling questions.” Lynch argues that while these protests may not lead to regime change or bring about major policy changes, they have “seared themselves into Arab political discourse” as they point to “underlying political problems which have enabled the economic mismanagement and corruption and lack of opportunity.”

Some commentators hope that these riots, like economic protests in Jordan in the 1980s, will lead to democratic openings but the likelihood remains unclear. In a piece at The Guardian’s Comment is Free, Simon Tisdall notes the lack of political will on the part of Arab regimes for reform and points to reports highlighting their failure to address political, economic, and social concerns.