Explaining the Western Response to the Arab Spring

This article examines the initial Western response to the Arab Spring. Traditional interests oil, counterterrorism, containing Iran, and the security of Israel offer only a limited explanation. Domestic politics and a humanitarian agenda explain some variation, but they too are insufficient. A number of leaders appeared to believe change would happen no matter what, so it was often better to embrace it than fight it. Others desired to showcase a new model, where the United States would not necessarily lead. Western powers also recognized the limits of their power and desired to maintain alliances with conservative countries like Saudi Arabia.