Date of Award
2022
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Historical & Political Studies; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Angela Kachuyevski
Abstract
This thesis seeks to determine which international relations theory best explains the United States involvement in the Arab Spring, and to ascertain if the goals set by those theories were met. Through the literature, I determine that two theories offer reasonable yet competing explanations of US involvement, and that these theories are first, defensive realism, and second, democratic peace theory. I employ the analytic method of pattern matching to compare each theory against the empirical record. In my analysis, I match empirical data from five affected countries to determine the strategic importance to the United States of the outcome of the revolutions, and American efforts to promote democracy in the states. Ultimately, I conclude that both of these theories offer a reasonably accurate explanation of US involvement in the events of the Arab Spring, but that defensive realism matches US goals more closely.
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Grace, "Revolution, Regime Change, and Rosewater: The United States’ Role in the Arab Spring" (2022). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2022/pgl/1
Revolution, Regime Change, and Rosewater: The United States’ Role in the Arab Spring
This thesis seeks to determine which international relations theory best explains the United States involvement in the Arab Spring, and to ascertain if the goals set by those theories were met. Through the literature, I determine that two theories offer reasonable yet competing explanations of US involvement, and that these theories are first, defensive realism, and second, democratic peace theory. I employ the analytic method of pattern matching to compare each theory against the empirical record. In my analysis, I match empirical data from five affected countries to determine the strategic importance to the United States of the outcome of the revolutions, and American efforts to promote democracy in the states. Ultimately, I conclude that both of these theories offer a reasonably accurate explanation of US involvement in the events of the Arab Spring, but that defensive realism matches US goals more closely.