Stranger in a Strange Land: Thucydides’ Stasis and the Arab Spring Spyridon Nikolaou Litsas, PhD University of Macedonia Abstract The article reviews the Arab Spring, projecting an alternative point of view. Although it lies in the spectrum of international politics analysis, still it maintains an internal approach regarding the Arab troubles. I support the idea that the Arab Spring can be examined as a Stasis phenomenon, deriving from the Thucydidian analysis. Nevertheless, while it is a phenomenon that affects the evolution of the Islamic nucleus, it is also an international event that may turn into a large-scale crisis for neighboring subsystems accordingly. Fear grandeurs, O soul. And if you cannot overcome your ambitions, pursue them with hesitation and caution. And the more you advance, the more inquisitive, careful you must be. And when you reach your peak, Caesar at last; when you assume the form of a famous man, then above all beware when you go out in the street, a conspicuous ruler with followers, if by chance from the mob approaches some Artemidorus, bringing a letter and says hastily “Read this immediately, these are grave matters that concern you,” do not fail to stop; do not fail to push aside all those who salute and kneel (you can see them later); let even the Senate itself wait, and immediately recognize the grave writing of Artemidorus. (Constantine P. Cavafy, The Ides of March) Introduction T here is little doubt that although totally unexpected, the Arab Spring was neither a transient nor an accidental phenomenon. As almost every major event, a series of revolts erupted within the Arabic nucleus because of a random and unfortunate event. However, the primary cause was different. The Arab Spring could be for Islam what the equivalent of the Thirty Years War, the Westphalian Treaty or the American War of Independence and the French Revolution are for the West. Hence, it is vital for the analysis to approach the phenomenon as a still occurring and continuously evolving political condition able to affect deeply the future course of Islam and of the international system as well. Digest of Middle East Studies—Volume 22, Number 2—Pages 361–376 © 2013 Policy Studies Organization. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.