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Arab spring and its impact discussed at Schemel Forum luncheon

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            The “Arab Spring” – as well as summer and fall – were discussed by Middle East scholar Daniel Serwer, Ph.D., in his presentation “War and Peace: Current Issues” at a recent Schemel Forum luncheon on campus. He described the Arab Spring as one of the “greatest political upheavals since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
            Dr. Serwer, Middle East Institute Professor in the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., discussed each of countries involved including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria, explaining that the protests began peacefully, but then turned violent.
            The revolution in Egypt that began when President Mubarak stepped down has seen a “difficult road” since, according to Dr. Serwer. Protestors have lashed out against police authorities, who have fought back aggressively. When protestors made the rash decision to turn to the armed forces for aid, the armed forces took over. Currently, Egypt has a new president, Mohammed Morsi, who is part of the Muslim Brotherhood and the newest subject of violent protests. Egypt has “no fixed road map [for the future],” Dr. Serwer said. 
            In Libya, Dr. Serwer said the situation is complicated government cannot enforce law and order. Last September, American ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were murdered by Islamist militants. Libya, however, may be in better standing than Egypt.
            “Libya has what Egypt doesn’t – a good election in July 2012, a small population, money, and a greater measure of ethnic uniformity,” Dr. Serwer said.
Yemen had protests concerning unemployment, economic conditions and other factors until the recent presidential election of Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi, who replaced the former President Saleh, ending his 33-year rule.
            According to Dr. Serwer, protests in Syria turned violent due to the actions of sectarian and extremist groups. The violence caused the United States to hesitate in military action. However, Russia has invested time and energy in Syria because of their growing interest in the sale revenue of arms and the Tartus port. He said other groups “want an end to Bashar,” the Syrian president.
The Arab Summer and Fall are noteworthy for furthering the Arab Spring and allowing the movement to change. Uprisings started by young adults have given way to radical Islamists. The movement’s transformation from fighting for change peacefully to fighting for change through violent means can be seen as a “fall.” 
Dr. Serwer’s presentation was part of the Weinberg Memorial Library 20th Anniversary Lecture Series, which is a collaboration with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Schemel Forum.
 
Nicole Lopez-Isa, Saddle Brook, N.J., is a English major with a concentration in Latin American Studies at The University of Scranton.


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