Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria

Metin Özkan; Ettah M. Horma

doi:10.26513/tocd.1763136

TR EN

Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria

Abstract

This article examines the enduring impact of the Arab Spring on Sudan and Algeria, focusing on the dynamics that have rendered their revolutionary trajectories “unfinished.” Building on the theoretical frameworks of civil-military relations, authoritarian resilience, and counterrevolution, the study situates both cases within the broader post-2011 political landscape of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The analysis highlights how structural legacies of post-colonial state formation, entrenched military influence, and regional geopolitical rivalries shaped the course of these uprisings. In Sudan, the fall of Omar al-Bashir in 2019 initiated a fragile civilian–military partnership, ultimately derailed by the 2021 coup, which reignited authoritarian consolidation. In Algeria, the Hirak movement forced the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika but confronted a military establishment determined to preserve its dominance. Comparative insights reveal that in both contexts, militaries acted as decisive arbiters, constraining democratic transitions through tutelary roles and institutional autonomy. External actors also reinforced authoritarian resilience by supporting counterrevolutionary forces. The article concludes that the Sudanese and Algerian cases illustrate the limits of popular mobilization in dismantling entrenched praetorian systems, underscoring the need to reassess democratization theories in light of persistent authoritarian structures in the MENA region.

Keywords

Arab Spring, Counterrevolution, Middle East, Democratization, Authoritarian Resilience

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Regional Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Metin Özkan ^*
0000-0001-6562-1981
Türkiye

Ettah M. Horma
0009-0001-4514-8119
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 25, 2025

Submission Date

August 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 11, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 12 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1763136

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA48JE95FM

APA

Özkan, M., & Horma, E. M. (2025). Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria. Türkiye Ortadoğu Çalışmaları Dergisi, 12(2), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1763136

AMA

1.Özkan M, Horma EM. Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria. TJMES. 2025;12(2):1-26. doi:10.26513/tocd.1763136

Chicago

Özkan, Metin, and Ettah M. Horma. 2025. “Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria”. Türkiye Ortadoğu Çalışmaları Dergisi 12 (2): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1763136.

EndNote

Özkan M, Horma EM (December 1, 2025) Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria. Türkiye Ortadoğu Çalışmaları Dergisi 12 2 1–26.

IEEE

[1]M. Özkan and E. M. Horma, “Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria”, TJMES, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1–26, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.26513/tocd.1763136.

ISNAD

Özkan, Metin - Horma, Ettah M. “Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria”. Türkiye Ortadoğu Çalışmaları Dergisi 12/2 (December 1, 2025): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1763136.

JAMA

1.Özkan M, Horma EM. Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria. TJMES. 2025;12:1–26.

MLA

Özkan, Metin, and Ettah M. Horma. “Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria”. Türkiye Ortadoğu Çalışmaları Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 1-26, doi:10.26513/tocd.1763136.

Vancouver

1.Metin Özkan, Ettah M. Horma. Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria. TJMES. 2025 Dec. 1;12(2):1-26. doi:10.26513/tocd.1763136

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Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria

Tamamlanmamış Devrimler: Arap Baharı'nın Sudan ve Cezayir'deki Uzun Gölgesi

Abstract

Unfinished Revolutions: The Long Shadow of the Arab Spring in Sudan and Algeria

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