Sunday, April 3, 2011
Prof. Monaco's Lecture on the "Arab Spring"
On Thu, 3/31, we attended a "Global Conversations" event organized by the Office of Student Life. Prof. Monaco lectured about the role of the United States in the "Arab Spring" (focusing mainly on Egypt). What aspect of the lecture did you find the most interesting? In your view, what international relations theory was reflected in the way Prof. Monaco framed his arguments? Explain, give examples. Also, what did you think about his analysis about the role of social media (e.g. facebook) in the revolutions? What do you think about the possible connection between local "civil society bloggers" and organizations such as the Freedom House and National Endowment for Democracy? Based on what you learned so far (from the lecture and in our learning community), what do you think the future will look like - the aftermath of the Arab Spring? Looking forward to your feedback.
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I would first like to say I found it borring, i felt asa if I was geting a lecture from a series of New York times, articles. It may have been the way he was talking but I did hear some interesting points. I found the fact that Britian, France and Isreal, formed a secret alliance and ganged up on Egypt highly RUDE. Especially since actions were taken without America's approval. I also found it interesting that to attack another country, America's approval is needed. What i really found to be a lot of junk was the fact that it was stated that social media such as twitter, facebook, etc. is responisible for the Egyptian rising. I feel that even without the social forums of the internet, the uprising would have still occured. For a long time it seems that Eyptians, were being taken advantaged of and abused. It was exspected that they would not rebell and when they did it became a problem to a lot of other people. The uprising has nothing to deal with poverty either. The uprising has to deal with being treated right. People standing up for what is supposed to be right. The uprising is about a country comming together as one (as the world should be) and saying we are not taking this no more. Egypt was just the first they are the inspirations for the future uprisings that need to happen.
ReplyDeleteI personaly thought how interesting it was how global connection sites as in Facebook could play a vital role in war like conflicts. I know that the gov't uses Facebook and other websites as in Twitter and etc. to keep tabs on those who use the websites in both good and bad aspects. The social media between local and global organizations helps spread awarness of situations and provide hidden or the more difficult to be recieved information to become aware of towards the public. I feel the future for the Arab Spring will be a better one. There is always chaos before peace. As long as people can fight for what they believe is right and is for the good of the people and themselves the results of the problem will most likely end in their favor.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatly the lecture was as genisis says boring but Prof. Monaco did provide good information. I think if he directed towards the audience more instead of acting as if he was reading a newspaper out loud to himself or talking to a brick wall he would have revieved a more positive reaction from the crowd other than people texting, sleeping and doodiling. But in the end the lecture was very well informative.
-Christina Portee
Professor Monaco’s lecture on the “Arab Spring” was insightful to say the least. The professor mentioned the connection between Diplomacy and Revolution. When I thought more about this link I realized that they have been closely linked for hundreds of years. The United States was created from the ideals of Democracy; Hence, the American Revolution. The recent uprisings that have occurred in the Middle East (Bahrain, Libya, Egypt and Yemen among others), seem to have certain things in common. Much of the unrest stems from economic, political and social stagnation in the region. The frustration felt by the people of these nations cannot be ignored any longer. Professor Monaco discussed the views of the uprisings from the aspect of the U.S. as well as other nations such as Israel. The US called for peaceful demonstrations meanwhile protestors in Egypt and Bahrain were being shot for no other reason than protesting. Monaco mentioned that the military power cuts down the ability to make progress in social reform. Peaceful should be peaceful. The US needs to deviate from its strict allegiance to Israel and address the concerns of the Middle East people. Monaco seemed to have a bleak view of US relations with the Middle East given the terminology he used. He seemed to take the Dependency theory in his speech. His implication seemed to be that the US wanted to be the dominant power and has been exploiting the Middle East for its oil for many years. Terms like “Elite Capitalistic Democracy” offered Monaco’s viewpoint of the US as a “snob” nation that only helps with ulterior motives. Even though these ideas aren’t completely unfounded, I would like to believe that not all Americans are lumped together in that category. The social network served to be a platform on which the revolutions received much attention. With or without “Facebook” the revolutions would have occurred however, every little bit helps. I personally found it fascinating that college students, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters from Egypt to Michigan were able to communicate their frustrations together. The “media battlefield” can help wage and win wars apparently. To me, that shows progress. The NGO’s Freedom House and National Endowment for Democracy seem to want to catapult democracy throughout the Middle East like a slingshot. I believe that as long as intentions are wholeheartedly genuine, than go for it. The people’s needs, concerns and common issues should be heard and maybe with the aid of these NGO’s, they will be. This has been a long time coming but I sometimes feel that the cautionary phrase, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it comes into play. I want all people to be happy and live their lives well however Democracy may not work everywhere. I hope that each and every nation involved can resolve each issue peacefully and without displacement, fighting and murder. Unfortunately the bloody history of the Middle East tells a different story. History has a way of repeating itself but maybe through the new generation of revolutionary thinkers, we can change things our way.
ReplyDelete-Dallas
I found the speech by Professor Monaco very informative; however I wish he had more time to get in-depth with his speech on the Middle East revolutions, as it seemed to be somewhat unfinished. He presented the fact that the Egyptian revolution was influenced by the successful revolution of Tunisia, which began with former president Ben-Ali, who dictated the country for 24 years. Then Egypt followed, former president Mubarak dictated Egypt for 30 years. The overthrow of the regime influenced other Arab nations across the Middle East and North Africa to stand up for democracy. Monaco also stated that other nations such as Egypt, Libya, and Yemen etc also followed to stand up against their dictators. Most of these revolutions that are occurring across the region are mainly because of oppression, poverty and basic human rights. Prof. Monaco gave an excellent example of former president Mubarak where 90% of Egyptians work off of less than three dollars a day. Libya’s president also gave a statement that he has enough money to restore the whole Middle East for two years while the majority of the people of Libya are also working off of less than three dollars a day. Former dictator Mubarak was a realist and only cared about himself and not his people. The people of Egypt were tired of being taken advantage of, they stood up for what’s right. Although lives were taken during the Egyptian revolutions, former dictator Mubarak stepped down and temporarily handed over the power to the Egyptian military who took sides with the people of Egypt. In the occurrence of the revolutions that took place in Tunisia and Egypt, the government shut down the internet but somehow social networking sites such as face book, YouTube and twitter were working, phone lines were also down making communication difficult. To be honest the social networking sites was big help however I believe the revolution would have went on without them. However social media was a great help to the revolutionaries, I even heard that a married couple that was involved in the revolution named their new born baby “facebook.” We have to remember that we once had our own revolution without social media & telecommunications; we overthrew the British control of our nation and grew to be the great democratic nation we are today. That’s all the Arab nations want, they want democracy and are tired of being under the control of a dictatorial government. They want basic human rights, they want freedom. I don’t know what the future holds honestly, but the theory has it right, the domino effect has taken place across the Middle East & North Africa and it seems like protests are breaking out across the region. 2011 may be the year of Middle East revolutions, protests are breaking out in nearly half-dozen of nations and innocent people are dying in the name of democracy. Like other classmates have mentioned, unfortunately there has to be bloodshed before peace is restored.
ReplyDelete-Ali
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ReplyDeleteChris, I read your post in response to this question(on your page). Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks everyone who posted so far. I look forward to hearing from everyone else as well.
- Prof. Blagojevic
tenzin
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting because he explained
the reality of the u.s foreign policy.
His lecture was very interesting because of what he points out about the U.S, Middle Eastern countries and technology. How each played a role in the domino effect of these countries rallying for independence.
ReplyDeleteI found it so interesting that facebook was a weapon in gathering the young people throughout the various countries . I usually think of networking sites being an over all a nuisance to privacy, but low and behold, it brought change to countries that wanted change.
I also thought The U.S’s involvement in the liberation of these countries was informative. Our country always seems to be in other countries affairs and is usually to push democratic and the “wellbeing” of the people, but according to Professor Monacoo’s “U.S only stops supporting a dictatorship when it’s no longer in the United States interest.” The United States militia and C.I.A forces intervene a lot with foreign affairs and aren’t supposed to be there.
Over all Professor. Monacoo’s lecture was pretty informative on the middle eastern politics. I hadn’t known much before the lecture and to learn that the U.S isn’t always so whole hearted in their attempts to bring a “better” government to people of the countries of middle east.