University of Copenhagen
After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure

Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.

University of Copenhagen

After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure

Dr. Ebrahim Afsah

Instructor: Dr. Ebrahim Afsah

16,781 already enrolled

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(529 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 25 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(529 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 25 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

24 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 6 modules in this course

In this section, you will become acquainted with some of the mistakes that were made in the decades prior to the outbreak of the recent Arab rebellions. These shortcomings have led to stunted and underperforming political systems, much at variance with developments elsewhere.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

At the heart of most of the enduring problems plaguing the Arab world is the availability of essentially free income flowing to the governments of the region. These ‘rents’ have sustained a repressive arrangement in which citizens pay little or no taxes and have no voice.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

Social action inevitably produces institutions, namely values, stable, repeated patterns of behaviour. In this section, you will learn what institutions are, how they come about, how their relative effectiveness is measures, how and why they decline, and why all that matters.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

This section deals with the material bases of popular discontent, especially the connection between the states’ explicit promises of delivering welfare that have become increasingly unsustainable in the face of exploding population growth and falling revenues.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

Structural changes beyond anyone’s control lead to different ways of living and, thus, value changes. With explosive population growth, social institutions have not kept up and norms are contested, often violently. Arab education and research especially have underperformed.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

Tying together some of the structural shortcomings that have produced the dysfunction that drove the Arab rebellions, this section casts a somewhat gloomy picture about the formidable tasks ahead if these societies want to redress the causes of discontent and return to stability.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments4 discussion prompts

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (111 ratings)
Dr. Ebrahim Afsah
University of Copenhagen
2 Courses48,896 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 529

4.7

529 reviews

  • 5 stars

    79.77%

  • 4 stars

    14.55%

  • 3 stars

    2.83%

  • 2 stars

    1.13%

  • 1 star

    1.70%

LK
5

Reviewed on Oct 12, 2018

VT
5

Reviewed on Feb 22, 2020

BE
5

Reviewed on Sep 3, 2017

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions