Abstract

Why were the uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt relatively short and characterized by low-intensity conflict, whereas the cases of Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria are more protracted and violent conflicts?  To answer this question, it is crucial to recognize that the variations of conflict and violence that we witness unfolding across the Middle East stem from the societal and regime nuances of each particular case.  This does not necessarily mean, however, that there are few similarities between the cases of low-intensity conflict or the high-intensity ones, as the latter conflicts have all become intractable due to the interplay of three factors:  the loyalty of coercive institutions, the lack of protest organization and the level of geostrategic significance.  Correspondingly, the absence of such an interaction distinguishes the cases of Egypt and Tunisia from Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria.  It is essential to start conceptualizing the new and different forms of conflict emerging in the region in order to understand current dynamics, assess future trends and chart possible solutions, and this project aims to take a step in that direction.