Arab spring:

The Arab Spring ‘is an ongoing wave of demonstrations and protests in the Arab world, which began in
December 2010. Popular protests have led to the overthrow of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt; a civil war
in Libya; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen; major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco
and Oman; and other countries in the Middle East region. It was a mass mobilization.

Causes:

What Is the Arab Spring?

Arab Spring is the wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings that took place in the Middle East and
North Africa beginning in 2010 and 2011, challenging some of the region’s entrenched authoritarian
regimes. Increased democracy and cultural freedom

. For detailed coverage of the Arab Spring in individual countries, see Jasmine Revolution (Tunisia),
Egypt Uprising of 2011, Yemen Uprising of 2011–12, Libya Revolt of 2011, and Syria Uprising of
2011–12.

Jasmine Revolution

The Arab Spring began in December 2010 when Tunisian street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi set
himself on fire to protest the arbitrary seizing of his vegetable stand by police over failure to obtain a
permit.

Bouazizi’s sacrificial act served as a catalyst for the so-called Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia.

In the face of protests the President Zine Ei Abidine Ben Ali obliged to abditace his position and fled to
Saudi Arabia. In Tunisia—the country’s first democratic parliamentary elections were held in October
2011

Causes of the Arab Spring

Economic Factors: Poverty and Unemployment:

Authoritarian Regimes in the Middle East

It was one of the most causes. Ben Ali in Tunisia, Mubarak in Egypt, Gaddhafi in Libya, Al Assad in
Syria, and Abdullah Saleh in Yemen had all consolidated their political power, limited any opposition
voices, and their regimes carried out numerous human rights abuses against their citizens. For example,
Tunisia would ban the formations of political organizations, and would stop any political behavior or
activity.
Frustration with Corruption

Many of the regimes were said to be highly corrupt, either in their political and business deals, or in
their acquiring of family wealth. This could be seen in Tunisia, or Libya, for example.

Social Media

Social media helped the people to conscious; allowed individuals to promote their content such as
political messages; shared identity and purpose among critics of the regime.

The Military’s Relationship with Civil Society

Arab Spring also led by the military. In places where the military had their own agenda, and their own
business interests outside of the state, then they were more willing to allow the protests to transpire
without intervening on behalf of the ruling regime. the better

Arab Spring Aftermath

While the uprising in Tunisia led to some improvements in the country from a human-rights perspective,
not all of the nations that witnessed such social and political upheaval in the spring of 2011 changed for
the better.

Egypt:

Government was overthrown on Feb 11, 2011. President Hosni Mubarak steps down, faces charges of
killing unarmed protesters. Elections held on Nov. 28, 2011. Protests continue in Tahrir Square.

Libya:

Anti-government protests begin on Feb. 15, 2011, leading to civil war between opposition forces and
Moammar Gadhafi loyalists. Tripoli was captured and the government overthrown on Aug. 23. Gadhafi
was killed by transition forces on Oct. 20, 2011

Syria:

Protests for political reforms have been ongoing since Jan. 26, 2011 with continuing clashes between
the Syrian army and protesters. On one day in July, 136 people were killed when Syrian army tanks
stormed several cities.

Yemen:

Ongoing protests since Feb. 3, 2011. President Ali Abdullah Saleh is injured in an attack on June 4. On
Nov. 23, he signs a power-transfer agreement ending his 33-year reign.

Other nations: Protests and uprisings related to the Arab Spring also took place in other countries as
well, including: Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman.

The main features of the authoritarianism in the middle east: five features are:

1. Appropriating and containing civil societies;

2. Managing political contestation;

3. Capturing the benefits of selective economic reforms;

4. Controlling new communications technologies;

5. Diversifying international linkages.