A study of three stages in the evolution of the Arab state after World War I, and the nature of the Arab state in each stage, down to the time of Arab uprisings and revolutions at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century. Special attention will be given to the breakdown of the “social contract” between Arab masses and authoritarian states in the period preceding (and foreshadowing) the recent uprisings, whereby peoples acquiesced to authoritarianism in exchange for guarantees of basic economic needs. Other topics to discussed include: the conditions necessary for transition to democracy; comparative study of revolutions in different countries, with the aim of understanding causes of failure and success, and the lessons to be learned from these; prospects of revolution in various Arab countries, as can be ascertained on the basis on the Egyptian and Tunisian experiences.