The Arab Spring: Where to Now? - Dr Sally Totman

“More tears are shed over answered prayers than over unanswered ones” (Saint Teresa)     A little under a year ago a Tunisian fruit vendor self immolated in protest against the activities of the Tunisian police in confiscating his unlicenced vegetable cart.  This was the spark which ignited a wave of revolt in Tunisia which soon spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, taking with it along the way the Presidents of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.  President Assad of Syria is under increasing pressure, and unrest has the capacity to destabilize governments from Morocco to the Gulf, and from Iran to Saudi Arabia and beyond. What will these changes bring, particularly when the new governments prove unable to provide jobs and increased prosperity for their people (as they most likely will)?  What role will Islamic parties play and how will their influence affect the prospects for secular democracy?  How will it affect the core Palestinian conflict?  Dr Totman will discuss these and other aspects of recent developments in this most sensitive of regions. Dr Totman is the Associate Head of School (Academic Programs and Development) and the Convener of the Middle East Studies program at Deakin University.  She joined Deakin in February 2007 having taught Middle East politics, international relations, and Australian foreign policy at Macquarie University in Sydney for 9 years.  She is the author of several books and articles on the Middle East and is a frequent commentator for, and contributor on, a wide range of issues relating to the Middle East for various radio, television and print media groups.