The wave of protests, demonstrations, and civil wars in the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 to 2016, known as the Arab Spring, is briefly described in this Behind the News series entry. Covering uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, the book asks, and attempts to answer, "What effect does change in the Middle East and North Africa have on the rest of the world? Why are these changes happening now? Who is taking part and what do they want? Which other countries are influencing events?" Readers are asked to ponder questions like, "Is democracy always good?" or "Can a dictator ever do good things for a country?" While it succeeds in encouraging readers to consider these queries, the topic's complexity does not lend itself to definitive answers, which may frustrate readers. The page design is too busy; it lacks source notes, but does have an index, sidebars, full-color photos, and a glossary. Useful for class discussions or debates, but only as supplemental material.