In 2010, the self-immolation of a produce vendor in Tunisia catalyzed a series of massive democratic revolutions and uprisings throughout the Middle East and North Africa. These events would come to be known as the Arab Spring. In some countries, strongmen who had held power for decades collapsed under the force of youthful popular movements. In others, despots violently and mercilessly clamped down on demonstrators."Now That We Have Tasted Hope" collects the most important primary source documents from those historic uprisings, telling the story of the Arab Spring from the perspective of those who lived itmen and women, young and old, from all sectors of society: musicians, poets, writers, political activists, actors, labor unionists, journalists, workers, and professionals. Voices from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria provide a comprehensive and captivating narrative of the momentous events of last year. From the harrowing accounts of tortured protesters to the hollow appeals of crumbling regimes and the triumphant songs of revolutionaries, these documents catalog the events of the Arab Spring in all its complexity and drama. They will remain fresh and urgent for a long time to come.. . .Praise for "Now That We Have Tasted Hope":"This anthology of illuminating essays, speeches, poems, songs, blogs, and essays will be eaten up like a hotcake. It is a must-read for all lovers of freedom and social justice."Abdul Sattar Jawad, Professor of Comparative Literature Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke University"This is a remarkable compilation and distillation of important primary documents bursting forth from Year One of the Arab uprisings. Revolutionary communiques, open letters, electronic media, and op-eds; famous last words that echo out of the tin-eared speeches of tottering despots; poetry, short prose, and visual culture fresh from the cutting edge of the contemporary Middle Eastthe ferment sweeping across Tunisia and Egypt to Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria is showcased and celebrated here in all of its vitality and complexity."Max Weiss, Assistant Professor of History and Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University"An invaluable collection ... [It] will be an important source for years to come for scholars and students of the Middle East and of revolutions, and for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the Arab uprisings."Melani Cammett, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Middle East Studies Program, Brown University
