Collective action in the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions [Ressource électronique] / Daniel Durcan

Master of arts : Liberal studies : Hanover, Dartmouth College : 2013

Bibliogr. p. 124-147

This thesis offers an in-depth analysis into the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, two events that shocked the world. Two long-standing tyrants were deposed after just a few weeks of non-violent action. Two years later, both countries, now dominated by Islamists continue to experience economic instability, social unrest and political violence. This thesis looks at the history and nature of the old regimes. It examines how the revolutions unfolded and the role of key actors in the revolutions: the militaries, the young people, workers, Islamists and capitalists. It also examines the non-violent nature of these two revolutions. It seeks to grasp the theoretical questions at stake, most importantly what these revolutions mean for theories of revolutions. I argue that the roots of the revolutions go back to the nature and history of the Tunisian and Egyptian regimes. I argue that despite the dominance of the Islamists following the revolution, it was the youth and workers who achieved this political reform. I also argue that the revolutions' non-violence goes back to these revolutionaries prior activism. Finally the thesis looks at huge problems of the exclusion of the youth and workers from the current Tunisian and Egyptian