Arab Spring and its Reasons

Arab Spring

Arab Spring is a term that used for the series of protest started in North African and Middle Eastern States. The name of the Arab Spring to Arab protest given by western media. In origin, the term Arab Spring came in limelight in the revolution of 1848, which are sometimes referred to as the "Springtime of Nations", and the Prague Spring in 1968. In the aftermath of the Iraq War was used by various commentators and bloggers who anticipated a major Arab movement towards democratization especially by the western world. Sometimes it’s also known as "Arab Spring and Winter”, "Arab Awakening" or "Arab Uprisings" because all the states where protests broke out are Arab states.

In December 2010, the anti-government protest started in Tunisia, the North African country. Tunisia call for the change in government and this protest have a spillover effect on the neighboring country.  The effect of Tunisia protest has a strong effect on the other five countries of Arab where similar kind of the protest started, Egypt, Yemen, Syria,

Bahrain and Libya. In some countries like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia the protest was a success and ended in a short span of time, on the other hand, Yemen and the Syrian protest is an example of never ended the protest. In Yemen and Syria, regional and international powers came on the same platform and the national issue of both states converted into the civil or proxy war. Yemen is an example of a proxy war of regional power and Syria is an example of Cold War politics between international and regional powers.

The countries where protest started, they share the similarity that’s why the issues of countries also similar. All countries almost have dictator rules and mostly in all countries use force against the protestors. The reason for the Arab Spring is the following:

• 1.       Youth Bulge and unemployment
• 2.      Economic indication
• 3.      Dictator rule
• 4.      Social media
• 5.      Corruption

1    1. Youth Bulge & Unemployment:

The population of Arab states are 423 Million. According to the UN Development Program, the population of Arab countries increasing day by day and the two-third majority is under Thirty. It means the Arab States population-based on Youth but because of the low political and economic system and less strategic policies Arab States faced the problem of unemployment. The problem of unemployment became the direct or indirect reason for conflict between the Government and the public. When the majority of the state population is based on youth and youth has degrees and high education but didn’t have enough job opportunities then it creates a rift and that has happened in Arab states.

       2.   Economic Indication:

The Arab States were not very bad economically but politically oppressed. In Tunisia there was employment but average per capita income was low and almost half of Tunisians per capita income with lower than 5000 dollars. In Egypt per Capita income was 6200 dollars. According to analysts the capita of states was not bad but the prices of food and markets were high that’s why people were economically vulnerable.

       3. Dictator Rule:

One of the main reasons for the Arab Spring is the Dictator Rule. The economic situation of the Arab States could stabilize overtime under a competent and credible government, but by the end of the 20th century, most Arab dictatorships were utterly bankrupt both ideologically and morally. When the Arab Spring happened in 2011, Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak had been in power since 1980, Tunisia’s Ben Ali since 1987, while Muammar al-Qaddafi ruled over Libya for 42 years.

People become furious because of Dictators’ self-centered and selfish policies which only beneficial for them not for the common public and this frustration converted into the rift, revenge, and anger. The anger of the public turn into the rift and the public started a protest and civil resistance against the government. The first protest started by Tunisian people against Ben Ali on 18 December 2010, as a result on 14 January 2011 the rule of Ben Ali overthrown by the public.

4.    Social Media:

Social Media is a mode of interaction between people. The mode of interaction became a source of destruction no one knowns. In Arab states, some states modified the society set up to modernized society just to create a good impact on the world. Egypt and Syria modernized their societies by giving them technology and rights to speak freely but they forget under the dictator rule rights and modernization is not a good option. At last, modern technology and the right to speak became a reason for the Egyptian revolution or protest. The first mass protest started in Egypt and that was announced on Facebook by an anonymous group of activists. The tool of mobilization proved as a  powerful social media tool that helped the activists to outwit the police. The Egyptian protest was the shortest protest which was ended in 2 weeks and 3 days and within the 18 days 30 years of Hosani rule ended and the revolution of Egypt also known as Social Media Revolution or Facebook Revolution.

       5.   Corruption:

The rulers of Arab countries dishonest not only with the country people but also with their duties, they are corrupt and only fulfill their wishes and desires. The economic hardship of the country would be managed if the ruler is honest and people have the belief over him but when the leader of a state only beneficial of itself and for elites then the rift created automatically.  In Arab states, the corrupt rule, and the corrupt elites become the torture for the public and the public becomes frustrated over them and took actions to throw the governments of corrupt rulers.

These are some major reasons behind the Arab Spring and the conflict between the government and the public. Some states controlled their situations and ended the conflict but on the other hand, some states like Syria and Yemen faced the worst situation for a while.