The Arab Spring and Its Implications for Arab Identity: the First Steps Towards an Arab Cultural Renaissance

International media outlets and Western politicians alike celebrated the 2011 Arab Spring as a monumental advancement in the pursuit of democracy and personal freedoms within the Arab world. However, as Arab Spring drags into Arab Winter, journalists, policy-makers and academics are struggling to understand the long-term implications of the 2011 uprisings. As Islamist groups win early victories in elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and signs of al-Qaeda activity blossom in the on-going Syrian bloodbath, optimism is turning to foreboding. This paper discusses the contention that this pessimism is misplaced and that the Arab revolutions have set vital precedents for a cultural renaissance in the Arab world. This paper also makes a number of suggestions for policy makers attempting to mediate the on-going revolutions and subsequent conflicts.