Timo Behr examines some of the major debates and narratives that have developed on the origins of the Arab Spring. In order to do so, his paper ‘Talking about Revolution” critically reviews the main structural, institutional, technological, and ideational explanations for the Arab Spring protests. What has been the explanatory value of each of these factors? How are they connected? And what do they suggest about the future of the Arab Spring?

While the paper treat these different explanations as analytically separate elements for the purpose of this contribution, it argues that ultimately a multivariate explanation is needed. The paper concludes with some consideration about what these various explanations tell us about the future prospects of the Arab authoritarian system.