Paul Ropp      

                                                            Reflection #1

            After reading Bellin’s argument it was interesting to see how applicable it is to the movements across the MENA region; how the theories she presented apply specifically to the region in relation to the Arab Spring. How out of the countries that has had revolutions one has ended semi-successfully, one has ended in theory, and one is tearing on at the expense of scores of civilian lives. In our discussion we went over the types of MENA states from authoritarianism to the good ol’ fashioned Parliamentary Republic of Lebanon. The points that were brought up in class about the types of government were also interesting I really the discussion of the concept of statehood and regime type. The brief outline of Middle Eastern history showed there is an interesting trend of resistance to organization of civil society; a distinct proclivity to empires and kingdoms. Over the course of the week I read a news article in “The Telegraph” about an armada composed of vessels from 25 different nations converging in the Strait of Hormuz for war games; “a prominent show of force” as Israel and Iran seem ever close to conflict. The article also pointed out that Obama and Netanyahu met on 9/17, an event that seemed unlikely during class on Thursday and is likely to foster discussion of US aid to Israel, and strategy in case of war. Class and the MENA region have been very interesting the past week, not to mention, the discussion on MENA region regimes allowed for a nice Segway into our first country briefs on political institutions.