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About this talk

Fifteen years since the Arab Spring promised a wave of democratic transformation across the Middle East, the populist strongmen are back and stronger than ever. Despite the initial power of the original protest movements, the rise of reactionary and nationalist populism has forced a reassessment of what went right, what went wrong, and what to do next. As authoritarian tactics mirror political shifts globally, the struggles of activists in the region are becoming increasingly relevant to the growing threat of populism in the West. A panel of activists from Egypt, Syria, and Sudan will discuss the lessons learned from the frontlines of the Arab Spring, the reality of fighting back against populist authoritarians, and how these experiences apply to the current political climate in Western countries. The panel will explore the path forward for progressive resistance both in the region and globally.

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