1. Middle East Unit Lesson 4

2.  Identify causes of the Arab Spring.  Explore the role of social media in the uprising.  Identify the connection to other protests in the region.  Consider the US response to the events.  Consider the potential effects of the protests on democracy and stability in the Middle East.

3.  Name two challenges Middle Eastern nations have faced since independence.

4.  What is a revolution?  Why is it important to learn about the Arab Spring revolutions?  Overthrow of est govt by people governed; sudden, often violent change in society  Support humanity, democracy, better life  Exciting  Appreciate risks taken  US ties to region  Youth revolt

5.  http://youtu.be/emPsmpCkrIc http://youtu.be/emPsmpCkrIc

6.  Economic Conditions  High unemployment  Low minimum wages  Inflation (food prices)  Class stratification  Political Conditions  No democratic values!  Lack voice in govt  No free speech/assembly  Police brutality/corruption  Who is demonstrating?  Youth 15-30  College students & grads  Fundamentalists & Opposition Groups

7.  Facebook,Twitter, YouTube  Mohamed Bouazizi  “We are all Khaled Said”  Jan 25 th “Day of Rage” protest  Sped up pace of revolution  Organize ppl  Transmit info  Gather support  Media Blackout  Underground tech mvmt Open pic for great paper on topic!

8.  Tunisia  Egypt  Libya  Syria  Algeria  Jordan  Kuwait  Morocco  Lebanon  Oman, Yemen, Bahrian http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn_egypt_future.php

9.  Economic Ties  Grain (wheat) for cotton  Oil  Political Ties  “Double Bind”  Authoritarian but stabilize volatile region  Regional Stability  “Productive instability” – short term chaos good for long term Democratic change?  Rise Political Islam?

10.  Working in small groups, explore the ongoing events surrounding the revolutions & uprisings in several key Middle Eastern nations.

11.  Cause of Protest?  Status Today?  Successful?  How measure success?  Major obstacles?  US Perspective/Actions

12.  Washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/world/middle-east-protests  Cnn.com/SPECIALS/2011/arab.unrest/index.html  Nytimes.com/interactive/world/middleeast/middle-east- hub.html#syria  Guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east- protest-interactive-timeline  English.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/2011  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/your-cheat-sheet- to-the-syrian-conflict.html http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/your-cheat-sheet- to-the-syrian-conflict.html

13.  http://youtu.be/wZ1jWsE5w3g http://youtu.be/wZ1jWsE5w3g

14.  Revolution or protest?  Why has the US responded differently to protests in different nations?

15.  This lesson was made possible in part by resources from Brown University’s “Choices Program” – Teaching with the News Lessons Egypt’s Uprising and After Mubarak.