The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring is the name now popularly being given to the 2010-11 Middle East and North African protests and demonstrations that have been taking place since December 18th last.  The protests began in Tunisia where they led to the successful removal of President Zine El Abinde Ben Ali.  From here they spread rapidly, sharing techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to organise, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of attempts at state repression and Internet censorship.

In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolution forced President  Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia.  This was followed by the outbreak of mass protests in Egypt, which led to President Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for 30 years, resigning on 11 February 2011.  Around the same time the King of Jordan was forced to name a new President, and the the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced that he would not seek another term in office in 2013, after what would then be 35 years of rule.  Pro democracy protests in Bahrain and Libya followed.

In Algeria, major protests and riots caused the lifting of a nineteen year state of emergency.  In Lebanon, thousands took to the streets to protest the sectarian rule there.  Similar protests in Sudan led to President Bashir announcing he would not seek re-election.  Several ministers were sacked in Oman following major protests.  Economic concessions were also granted by the Sultan.  In Syria, mass protests led to the release of political prisoners and the sacking of a provincial governor.  In Morocco, a referendum on constitutional reform was announced following protests.  Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq was prevented from running for a third term after demonstrations there.  Protests in Iran led to the arrest of opposition leaders.  In Kuwait protesters clashed with riot police.

What has caused this widespread rebellion?

Economic turmoil, human rights violations, government corruption, mass unemployment and extreme poverty have all be named as factors.  Probably the biggest cause of the Arab Spring has been the growth of an educated and increasingly frustrated young generation.  This has been referred to as the YouthQuake in some quarters.  It remains to be seen whether or not this youth quake can bring about real and lasting change, or if the corrupt and bloated governments are simply replaced by more of the same.