CREA/RWE 12 dec: De economie van de Arabische lente
One Year After: Revisiting the Political Economy of the Arab Spring
This Real World Economics evening is devoted to understanding the political economy background of the mass revolts that have spread in North Africa and the Arab World and asks whether there have been any significant changes ever since. Although the protests were a reaction to different forms of authoritarian repression in each of the revolutionary countries, the dire economic situation has also been a common denominator. Unemployment has been lingering, underemployment high and poverty and socioeconomic inequality deepening. The failed attempts to find employment by the Tunisian street vendor, whose self-immolation triggered the uprising in Tunisia, are exemplary in this regard.
During this Real World Economics evening, the question of why and how limited economic opportunities propelled political resentments and mass mobilisations will stand central. Moreover, what has been achieved economically and politically one year after? With Paul Aarts, lecturer International Relations (UvA), specialised in the politics and economics of the Middle East; Roel Meijer, researcher (Clingendael) and expert on the modern Middle Eastern history and Islamist movements; and Jan Eikelboom, journalist specialised in the Middle East region and author of the book ‘Arabische Lente, Een ooggetuigenverslag’. Moderator: Angela Wigger (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen). English spoken.
Date: Mo 12 December
Location: CREA Theater
Admission: students free, others € 5,-
No reservations