The waves of protest across the Middle East and North Africa that were ignited by the self-immolation of Muhammad Bouazizi in Tunisia in late 2010 highlighted for an international audience the importance of contentious politics in the region. John Chalcraft's ground-breaking account of popular protest emphasizes the revolutionary modern history of the entire region. Challenging top-down views of the region's politics, he looks at how commoners, subjects and citizens have mobilised in defiance of authorities. Chalcraft takes examples from a wide variety of protest movements across the region, forging a new narrative of change over time, and creating a truly comparative framework. Beginning with the movements under the Ottomans, this book goes on to discuss the impact of constitutional movements, armed struggles, nationalism and independence, revolution and Islamism. A work of unprecedented range and depth, this book will be welcomed by undergraduates and graduates studying protest in the region and beyond.
