Book Reviews

摘要

As this review nears completion, autocratic regimes throughout North Africa are being challenged in the streets, with each standoff presented to Western cable news audiences as dramatic clashes between democracy and tyranny. Some of the revolts against despots may have resulted in uncertain outcomes for the protestors, many of whom in fact believed they were fighting for a more fair and just government. For example, the protest that seemingly led to Hosni Mubarak's ouster resulted in the military filling the power vacuum left by the deposed Egyptian leader. And curiously, as the protests in that country picked up steam, Mohamed El Baradei stepped down from his position on the board of George Soros' International Crisis Group to return to Egypt and become the de facto leader of the Facebook and Twitter-fueled popular movement headed up by Google's Middle East Marketing Director, Wael Ghonim.