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.
Well done
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