New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Podcasts
  2. World Review
26 February 2021

Why the 2011 Arab Spring won’t be the last Middle East revolution

Sir John Jenkins, former ambassador to Libya, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, joins Emily Tamkin and Ido Vock on the World Review podcast

It’s ten years since the self-immolation of Tunisian street-seller Mohamed Bouazizi sparked an uprising against oppressive regimes that spread to much of the Middle East and northern Africa. The Arab Spring deposed leaders in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, and ultimately contributed to the past ten years of conflict and unrest in the Middle East. 

On this week’s episode of World Review from the New Statesman, Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC and Ido Vock in Berlin are joined by Sir John Jenkins, formerly the UK’s ambassador to Iraq, Libya and Saudi Arabia, to look at the decade that’s passed since the Arab Spring, and whether any lessons have been learned in both the region and the wider international community.

Further reading

Sir John Jenkins’ piece, The lights that failed, discusses why the cause of liberal democracy collapsed in the Middle East.

The BBC Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, has written for the New Statesman to explore how the dream of the Arab Spring died.

Amnesty International has stripped Alexei Navalny of his status as a “prisoner of conscience”. Emily asks if this was the right decision by the human rights organisation.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

How to listen to the World Review podcast

1. In your browser

You can use the player above to listen in your browser right now. The World Review podcast publishes weekly, on Fridays. All episodes are published to newstatesman.com/podcasts on the day of release.

2. In a podcast app

World Review is available on all major podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, Google Podcasts, and more. Search ‘World Review’ in your favourite podcast app, and subscribe or follow to make sure you receive episodes as soon as they publish. While you’re there, please leave a review for the podcast – it helps others find the show, which in turn makes it possible for us to keep making it.

3. On your smart speaker

If you have an Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple HomePod smart speaker, ask it to “play the latest episode of World Review”. The same command also works with virtual assistants on mobile devices.

Content from our partners
Can green energy solutions deliver for nature and people?
"Why wouldn't you?" Joining the charge towards net zero
The road to clean power 2030