Review of False dawn: Protest, democracy, and violence in the new Middle East

Abstract

In False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East, Steven A. Cook examines the trajectory of events in four countries (Turkey, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt) to elucidate why the Middle Eastern uprisings failed and why they should not be construed as "revolutions." Cook argues that despite appearances, there were no true revolutions in the Middle East, since none of the affected societies underwent social revolutions and the old structures of power were never eliminated. He refers to identity crises and sticky institutions as the main reasons for the lack of structural change. The author also analyzes the role of US foreign policy and asserts that American influence is quite limited in the region. He therefore suggests that Washington can utilize development-based programs rather than governance programs to play the long game.