Since the First Wave of Uprisings in 2011, the euphoria of the "Arab Spring" has given way to the gloom of backlash, clashes between rival counter-revolutionary forces, and a decent into mayhem and war. Morbid Symptoms offers a timely assessment of the ongoing Arab uprising. Focusing on Syria and Egypt, Gilbert Achcar analyzes the factors of the regional relapse: the resilience of the old regimes, the power of religious reactionary forces, the exceptional number of rival international and regional supports of both reactionary camps, and the shortcomings of progressive forces. Drawing on a unique combination of scholarly and political knowledge of the Arab region, Achcar argues that, short of radical social change, the region will not achieve stability any time soon.

Introduction : of revolutionary cycles and seasons -- "Democratic transition" and revolutionary process -- One revolution, two counter-revolutions -- Syria : the clash of barbarisms -- The abandonment of the Syrian people -- The making of the Syrian disaster -- The Assad regime's preferred enemy -- Turkey's and the Gulf monarchies' preferred friends -- The Syrian predicament -- Russian intervention and Western wavering -- Whither Syria? -- Egypt : the "23 July" of Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi -- How the Muslim Brotherhood's bid for power unfolded -- Neither lion nor fox -- Incensing the country -- Enter Tamarrod -- Nasserist illusions -- The military's second hijacking of the people's will -- The ruthless rise of Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi -- The tailoring of Sisi's presidential suit -- The farcical aspect of Egypt's tragedy -- Neoliberal constancy -- Megalomania and megaprojects -- The military's takeover of Egypt -- Whither Egypt? -- Conclusion : "Arab winter" and hope -- Libya and Yemen : two variations on the same tune -- The Tunisian "model" and its limits -- The Arab left and the strategic challenge.