Arab Spring

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The Arab Spring (or the Arab Revolutions) refers to the

recent revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring

in the Arab world.

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Causes• Democratic deficit:

dictatorship & authoritarian regimes

• Human rights violations

• Government corruption

• Economic turmoil• A young, educated,

and idle populace4

January 2011

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January cont’d

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January cont’d

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February 2011

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Since December, 2010 there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt; a civil war in Libya;

civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen;

major protests in Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman.

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The protests have shared characteristics of civil resistance (protests by the public) in sustained campaigns…

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…involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies.

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Protesters were generally young people, who also used the social media, such as

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, to organize, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of their governments’ attempts at censorship.

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A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world has been

“Ash-sha`b yurid isqat an-nizam” …

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("The people want to bring down the regime").

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The largest, most organized demonstrations have often occurred

on a “Day of Rage", usually Friday after the Muslim’s noon prayers.

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Yemen

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Syria 2011

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Many demonstrations have met violent responses from government authorities, as well as from pro-government militias.

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The series of protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa was sparked by the first protests that occurred in Tunisia which challenged police corruption.

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December 17, 2010 it Begins

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26 year old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on firein protest after authorities prevented him fromselling vegetable in the street

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Rebecca Solnit, Op-Ed: “I wish you could see the way that your small life and large death became a catalyst for the fall of so many dictators in what is known as the Arab Spring. We are now in some sort of an American Fall. Civil society here has suddenly hit the ground running, and we are all headed toward a future no one imagined when you, a young Tunisian vegetable seller capable of giving so much, who instead had so much taken from you, burned yourself to death to protest your impoverished and humiliated state.”

Characteristics• Arab, not Sectarian (in general)

• Lower classes, Students, Laborers, Military

• Populist• Social Media• Civil Resistance

(strikes, protests, and demonstrations)

• U.S. supported authoritarian regimes

الشعب يريد •اسقاط النظام

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With the success of the protests in Tunisia, a wave of unrest struck Algeria,

Jordan, and Yemen, then spread to other countries.

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In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak resigned in February, 2011, after two weeks days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency.

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In Egypt this led to: • Assumption of power by the Armed Forces;  • Dissolution of the Parliament; • Prosecution of Mubarak former ministers.

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During this period of regional unrest, several leaders announced their

intentions to step down at the end of their current terms, such as the Iraqi

Prime Minister.29

Protests in Jordan have also caused King Abdullah to form a new government with newly appointed officials

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Libyan leader Muammar al-Gadafi refused to step down, causing a civil war between

his loyalists and rebels…31

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Tunisia: Ousting of President Ben Ali Elections for a Constituent Assembly

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YEMEN: The President is injured in an attack on his compound; he and his family, including his wife, leave for Saudi Arabia.

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SYRIA: Release of some political prisoners; Dismissal of Provincial Governors; Resignations from Parliament; Ongoing protests

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OMAN: Dismissal of ministers; Granting of lawmaking powers to elected legislature

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Morocco: Ongoing protests; Political concessions by King Mohammed VI; Voting on Constitutional reforms

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The outside world has also become involved in the events of the Arab Spring

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In spring of 2011, a United Nations Security Council Resolution was adopted, authorizing a

no-fly zone over Libya, and approved "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

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Two days later, France, the United States and the United Kingdom intervened in Libya with a bombing campaign against pro-Gaddafi forces. (A coalition of 27 states from Europe and the

Middle East soon joined the intervention, too.)

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Numerous factors led to the protests, but most focused on the overthrow of

authoritarian (total power; the opposite of democracy/

representative government) leaders.

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Some governments were dictatorships (rule by one man), while others were

absolute monarchies (power held by a king/queen with total authority).

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In all countries, there were accusations of human rights violations, government corruption, unemployment, extreme poverty…

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and a large percentage of educated but dissatisfied youth within the population.

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The catalysts for the revolts in Northern African and Persian Gulf countries

have also been the concentration of wealth in the hands of autocrats

(authoritarian leaders) in power for decades.

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In recent decades rising living standards and literacy rates, as well as the increased

availability of higher education, have created internet-savvy youth

of these countries.

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These young people studied in democratic nations, where they learned the value and

fairness of representative government. 49

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Time will tell if the events of the Arab Spring will

continue to influence and inspire other pro-

democracy movements around

the world.

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Arab Spring

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