Mason Experts Take a Deep Look at Revolutionary Era

by Rashad Mulla

Mason Experts Take a Deep Look at Revolutionary Era
The storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution.

Much of the Arab world and the Middle East have undergone massive political and social change throughout 2011. Even current developments, such as the death of Muammar Gaddafi, continue to shape the fluid, dynamic challenges these countries face as they usher in new leadership, new policies and new eras. 

George Mason University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a special seven-part, two-day seminar, entitled “Revolutions: Past, Present, and Future.” This seminar will feature seven one-and-a-half-hour discussion panels, taking place in Mason Hall’s Edwin Meese III Conference Room. The individual panels will focus on revolutions throughout history, spanning the range of time between the American and French Revolutions to the “Arab Spring” of 2011, which featured widespread changes in places such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and many other countries. These events span the last 235 years.

Many Mason historians with different areas of expertise will be on hand to dissect the different revolutions throughout history, providing audiences with a great way to look at the current revolutions in context.

Mark Katz, a professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs, has researched Russian foreign policy, international relations of the Middle East and a variety of revolutions throughout his career. He will speak at a panel covering the years 1989-1991 in China, Russia and Eastern Europe.

“It is important to learn about revolutions since they continue to occur, as shown by the Arab Spring,” Katz said. “Revolutions are not only important for the countries they occur in, but for the broader impact on international relations that they often have.”

Rex Wade, University Professor in the Department of History and Art History, will co-moderate a panel on the Russian Revolution with Center for Eurasian Studies Director Steven Barnes. Wade, who has published many works on Russian history, said that revolutions’ impact can be felt for periods of time far longer than the immediate season after the initial coup d’état or event that sets off the firestorm.

“For a major revolution, those who begin it are rarely those who finish it,” Wade said. “The importance of a revolution can be measured in part by the breadth of its impact. Does it affect more than one country, and does it influence more than one generation?”

All panels are free and open to students, faculty, staff and the general public, and the college encourages guests to bring their own questions for the experts. After all, these revolutions, though taking place on different continents, continue to have worldwide effects.

“Revolutionaries often think that their event has world-shaking importance,” Wade said. “A few are right.” 

Here is a complete listing of the panel discussions, dates, times and panelists. All events take place in the Edwin Meese Conference Room in Mason Hall, unless otherwise noted:

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Panel: Comparing the American & French Revolutions, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

  • Jack Censer, dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Rosemarie Zagarri, Department of History and Art History

Panel: The Russian Revolution, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

  • Rex Wade, University Professor, Department of History and Art History
  • Steven Barnes, director, Center for Eurasian Studies

Roundtable Discussion, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

  • Cynthia Kierner, Department of History and Art History
  • Eric Shiraev, Department of Public and International Affairs

The Arab Spring and Women's Leadership, 6:00 p.m., Mason Hall, Room D3

  • Tawakkul Karman, Yemeni activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner

Thursday, Oct. 27

Panel: 1989-1991: China, Russia, and Eastern Europe, and Beyond, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

  • Mark Katz, Department of Public and International Affairs
  • Mills Kelly, director, Global Affairs Program
  • Eric Shiraev, Department of Public and International Affairs

Panel: Revolutionary Echoes and New Directions: South Africa, Latin America, the “Arab Spring”, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

  • Jo-Marie Burt, Department of Public and International Affairs
  • Bassam Haddad, director, Middle East Studies
  • Les Kurtz, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Roundtable Discussion, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

  • Eric McGlinchey, Department of Public and International Affairs
  • John Dale, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
  • Ayah Ibrahim, PhD, Political Science