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  • Essay / Analysis of the Arab Spring - 2300

    At the end of 2010, a Tunisian named Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest the poor economic situation in which he was living (CNN, 2011). Other Tunisians quickly took advantage of the opportunity to resist their government and eventually overthrow Ben Ali's leadership. They took responsibility for fighting for the common good. A simple demonstration against the Tunisian government quickly grew to the point that Ben Ali had to leave the country. The events which followed the departure of the Tunisian president were the least expected. The revolts in Tunisia have incited citizens of other Arab countries to revolt against their governments. By the end of 2011, the Arab Spring had cost the presidency of three longtime presidents and led to the deaths of thousands, including former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The incidents in Egypt were particularly phenomenal, as a smaller youth protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square quickly went viral and attracted thousands of demonstrators that ultimately led to the change of Egyptian leadership. All nonviolent activities are only supported if they are aimed at achieving the common good and are justifiable. The revolt in Egypt was sparked by young people, as it is they who generally bear most of the repercussions of the failure of the political status quo. The increase in global food prices observed in 2010 made the lives of unemployed youth and women even worse (All & Macharia, 2013). They felt deprived of all the opportunities and rewards of life, in terms of education, employment, income and general comfort. Does this justify their reason for organizing mass demonstrations, refusing to be cajoled either into the legitimate medium of paper or into 140 characters? OUPblogCNN (2011). Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa – country by country. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/21/mideast.africa.unrest/index.html Gladwel, M. (2010). Small change. The New Yorker. Haxhi, T. (2012). Confrontational politics: the importance of civil disobedience today. Retrieved from http://www.alterinter.org/spip.php?article3847Khouri, R. (2011).The Arab awakening. Retrieved from http://www.thenation.com/article/162973/arab-awakeningMaria E. and Chenoweth, T. (2012). Why civil resistance works: the strategic logic of nonviolent conflict. Columbia University Press Sahrp G. (1994). From dictatorship to democracy. The Albert Einstein InstitutionWolfsfeld, G., Segev, E. and Sheafer, T. (2013). Social media and the Arab Spring: politics above all. International press/politics review, 18(2), 115-137