Why did Tunisian protests following the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi lead to a massive wave of uprisings across the entire Arab world? Who participated in those protests, and what did they hope to achieve? Why did some leaders fall in the face of popular mobilization while others found ways to survive? And what have been the lasting results of the contentious politics of 2011 and 2012? The Arab uprisings pose stark challenges to the political science of the Middle East, which for decades had focused upon the resilience of entrenched authoritarianism, the relative weakness of civil.

1. Introduction / Marc Lynch -- 2. Theories of Transition / Daniel Brumberg -- Part I: Regional and Cross-National Dimensions: 3. Diffusion and Demonstration / David Patel, Valerie Bunce, and Sharon Wolchik -- 4. Authoritarian Learning and Counterrevolution / Steven Heydemann and Reinoud Leenders -- 5. Media, Old and New / Marc Lynch -- 6. Inter-Arab Relations and the Regional System / Curtis R. Ryan -- Part II: Key Actors: 7. States and Bankers / Clement M. Henry -- 8. Arab Militaries / Robert Springborg -- 9. Political Geography / Jillian Schwedler and Ryan King --10. Labor Movements and Organizations / Vickie Langohr -- 11. Islamist Movements / Quinn Mecham -- 12. Elections / Ellen Lust -- Part III: Public Opinion: 13. Political System Preferences of Arab Publics / Mark Tessler and Michael Robbins -- 14. Political Attitudes of Youth Cohorts / Michael Hoffmann and Amaney Jamal --15. Constitutional Revolutions and the Public Sphere / Nathan J. Brown -- 16. Conclusion / Marc Lynch.