Asan in the News

2013JUL30

Jang Ji-Hyang [Arirang TV] “Are We Approaching an ‘Arab Winter'”?

  • Issue/Region :
    Democracy,Democracy,Democratization and Political Reform,Politics,State-building/Middle East,Middle East and Africa
  • Expert :
    Jang Ji-Hyang / Center for Regional Studies

[Arirang TV]  2013-07-30

Prime Talk: Jang Ji-Hyang Discusses the fears of an “Arab Winter”

It may be hard to believe it all started with a fruit vendor in Tunisia two years ago. The Arab Spring has brought leadership changes. and democracy movements to many Arab nations.

But we have also seen the movement stall in bloody stalemates or even reverse back into what some call an Arab Winter. Joining us now is Dr. Jang Ji-hyang, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Center at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
Welcome back, Dr. Jang.

Dr. Jang. why is it so hard for democracy to take root in this area?

If it is hard for democracy to establish itself. why does the sentiment spread like wildfire to other Arab nations?

Do you think Syria is a lost cause and when should intervention by the international community come in?

What do you think about the phrase the Arab Winter? Is there something these movements need right now to become more successful?

Israel and Palestine are in the middle of their first peace talks in 3 years.
What do you think will come out of the meeting? Should we get our hopes up?

Thanks for joining us tonight.

Arirang Interview

About Experts

Jang Ji-Hyang
Jang Ji-Hyang

Center for Regional Studies

Dr. JANG Ji-Hyang is a Principal Fellow and director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Dr. Jang served as a policy advisor on Middle East issues to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2018). Previously, Dr. Jang taught comparative and Middle East politics at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Ewha Woman’s University, and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Her research interests include political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, political Islam, comparative democratization, terrorism, and state-building. Dr. Jang is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Essential Guide to the Middle East (Sigongsa 2023 in Korean), The Arab Spring: Will It Lead to Democratic Transitions?(with Clement M. Henry (eds.), Palgrave Macmillan 2013), “Disaggregated ISIS and the New Normal of Terrorism” (Asan Issue Brief 2016), “Islamic Fundamentalism” (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences 2008) and a Korean translation of Fawaz Gerges’ Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy (Asan Institute 2011). Dr. Jang received a B.A. in Turkish studies and M.A. in political science from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Texas at Austin.

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