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Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Discusses the Arab Spring

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Discusses the Arab Spring

Credit: Mauricio Lima for The New York Times

Today’s announcement of Qaddafi’s death is a reminder of the remarkable geopolitical shift taking place in North Africa and the Middle East, one that has the opportunity to radically alter decades of static rule, corruption and oppression. The Arab Spring, or Arab Awakening, or Great Uprising certainly also creates vast challenges, and for the international community, great levels of concern. From a U.S. foreign policy perspective, what are the ramifications of these political upheavals and will the U.S. be able to adapt to a changed political environment in the Middle East and North Africa?

These key questions form the basis of an episode in this year’s Great Decisions television series on PBS, produced by the Foreign Policy Association and airing in January. Great Decisions met with top policy makers, academics, activists, and journalists to discuss some of today’s most crucial debates, including the Arab Spring.

Below is a preview of Great Decisions’ interview with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who shares her thoughts on the upcoming challenges for countries in the midst of the Arab Spring.

For more information about Great Decisions, click here. Or check back for more previews.

 

Author

Sarah Marion Shore

Sarah Marion Shore works as an online editorial assistant at the Foreign Policy Association. Previously, she conducted research for Action Against Hunger (ACF), a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Sarah graduated with honors from Barnard College, Columbia University, where she studied Middle East and African History. While a student, Sarah served as the primary editor and fact checker for the book "The Trouble with the Congo: Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding", written by Political Scientist Séverine Autesserre. Sarah also spent a year in Paris studying French and International Relations at the Université Paris-Sorbonne. She currently lives in New York.
Twitter: @sarahmshore