Neil MacFarquhar - The Arab Spring

Friday, 06 January 2012

Ever since the young Tunisian man set himself on fire in protest, the world has been watching the outbreak of public demonstrations that spread across the region, and became known as the “Arab Spring”. 

Three countries, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have overthrown their governments, - what’s the outlook for Syria? 

Returning from Damascus, Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times United Nations Bureau Chief puts in perspective the latest developments in the changing Middle East. 

He grew up in Libya, and spent more than 25 years in the region, serving five years as Cairo Bureau Chief for the New York Times, and seven years as Correspondent for the Associated Press, reporting from Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus. 

He speaks Arabic and French, and is the author of The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East and The Sand Café, a Novel. 

Will the Arab Spring continue to bear fruit?