Bedross Der Matossian, Shattered Dreams of Revolution: From Liberty to Violence in the Late Ottoman Empire

The recent revolutions that have taken place in the Middle East – the so-called Arab Spring –raised great hopes of democratization. However, soon after, expectations of a better life sank into chaos and even civil war, as in the ongoing conflict in Syria, claiming the lives of tens of thousands and fueling the emigration of millions to neighboring countries. Why do revolutions fail, and how do they betray expectations of freedom, equality, and justice, resulting in waves of mass violence alon...