I understand politically that uprisings take place as a combination of spontaneity and preparation, not that preparation is more important than spontaneity.

I consider this a kind of neoliberalism of the Left, this rise and promotion of spontaneity above preparation.

There's a different use for different strategies.

Mr. Assad is not going to be able to feel like there is a moderate opposition that actually threatens him. Currently, the Assad government looks out at the landscape, sees the rise of ISIS, sees that much of the rebel force has become largely Islamist, and then turns to the West and says, well, you know, they look toward the West and say, well, look, what you have is a terrorist group that's fighting against us. So in this context, I think, to talk about moderate opposition being created to put pressure on Damascus is rather illusionary.

You see all kinds of anarchic forms of rebellion, but the moment of preparation is when the Communists and other kinds of political forces play a roll.

People who become important activists, they also struggle with the process of discovery.

There's a right-wing shift in Israeli society, very hard right shift.