Description:
In its essence, the Arab Spring is about “being Arab,” in the words of the late Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir. This essay explores the two fold meaning of this Arab awakening as the emergence of a homogeneous yet plural field of Arab culture and its integration into the mosaic of global culture. Also assessed are America’s careful and selective search for relevancy in this veritable revolution sweeping across the Middle East, the impact of fast-moving events on the US-Israel relationship, and the long-term significance of the Arab Spring for future American policy in the region.