Lessons from the Arab Spring

Part of an online talk I gave few months ago, organized by Marx21, on lessons from the first wave of Arab revolutions. I discussed five points:
– Revolution is a process.
– You cannot take over the state institutions. You have to smash them.
– The need for a revolutionary organization.
– The question of Islamism.
– The street, ballot box, and the need to confront ultra-leftism.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdas

I’ve just finished watching the gruesome new video released an hour ago by Ansar Beit al-Maqdas. The video on YouTube went viral, but it was taken down after being reported by users. However, it’s already there on DailyMotion and other sites. The links are disseminated widely via Twitter, Islamist forums and Facebook, etc.

It’s ironic, how a small terrorist organization, using social media platforms available for free, can outtake a resourceful state in the propaganda war.