Disappointment and vision in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings

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ABSTRACT Most commentators concede that the Arab uprisings of 2010–11 fell dramatically short of meeting their aspirations. For some, this wave of popular protests was an undeniable failure. Others draw more conflicted conclusions. They do not gainsay the realities of authoritarian retrenchment and war, but underscore the democratic practices and attitudes that have expanded over the past decade-plus. In the midst of such discussions, scant attention has been paid to how Arab intellectuals reacted to and evaluated the uprisings’ fates. This article addresses this gap by considering the writings of contemporary Moroccan intellectual Abdelilah Belkeziz. I argue that the sense of disappointment that he both expresses and notes among participants and observers of the Arab uprisings alike serves as a source of vision through which to productively consider the movements and their future trajectories, and to avoid the pitfalls of excessive optimism and despair.