In late 2010 and early 2011, a wave of pro-democracy uprisings and protests called the 'Arab Spring' or its Arabic term, al-Rabi’ al-‘Arabi, spread through the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
It challenged the long-established authoritarian regimes in the region, specifically in Yemen, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Bahrain. The Arab Spring triggered a political upheaval that swept across West Asia in 2011 and brought about an economic renewal in the region.
In December 2010, the uprising of anti-government protests started in Tunisia and gradually spread from country to country in revolts against long-time authoritarian rulers. Arab Spring — a wave of uprisings, revolts, protests, and unrest, spread across Arabic nations in the Middle East and North Africa by early 2011.
Pro-democratic protests, which escalated rapidly due to the internet penetration, ended up overthrowing the governments of Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.
Many reasons such as economic, political, and social were a few major factors leading to the episode of Arab Spring. The aim of the rise of the movement was to protest against unfair governmental rule and demand to reinstate fundamental rights of the people.
More than just removing autocrats, the uprisings were primarily about a massive demand by the public for better economies and governance, rule of law, equal rights and, most of all, a voice in how their countries should run. So far, millions have lost their homes in war across Syria, Yemen and Iraq and struggle to find livelihoods, educate their children and feed themselves.
By 2013, rulers were removed from power in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, civil uprisings erupted in Bahrain and Syria, major protests broke out in Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Sudan and minor protests took place in Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Oman, Western Sahara, and Palestinian territories.
Between 2013 and 2018, the scale of protest in the MENA region decreased significantly, a period referred to as the 'Arab Winter'.
By early 2018, a new wave of protest swept through the countries including Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon. Protests in Sudan led to military coup defeat, ousting former president Omar al-Bashir. Over the years, the protests culminated in sustained campaigns involving demonstrations, strikes, rallies and marches as well as the productive utilisation of social media to communicate, organise, and raise awareness about Internet censorship and tyranny.
What gave birth to the Arab Spring?
In December 2010, a Tunisian street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in the city of Sidi Bouzid to protest the draconian seizing of his vegetable shop by the police over failure to receive a permit. His sacrifice became a catalyst for the Arab Spring revolution in Tunisia. The pro-democracy protests that ensued in Tunis, eventually provoked authoritarian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for more than 23 years, to resign and flee to Saudi Arabia.
The regime change in Tunisia inspired activists in other countries and began to protest authoritarian governments in their own nations. The street protests triggered a wave of revolts across the Middle East as people began to voice their angst against unemployment, corruption, discrimination, authoritarianism, and poverty.
Impact of Arab Spring
The Arab Spring caused the end of many long-standing autocrats. However, in the ten years that have passed, the legacy of the movement seems 'mixed'. In fact, only Tunisia is working towards attaining democracy despite the high rate of unemployment. On the other hand, Syria, Yemen and Libya are in the grip of civil wars and Egypt, in particular, has reverted to an autocratic regime and has clamped down on free speech and journalistic freedoms with little or no protest from Western governments.
Civil society activists still battling oppression and corruption across the Middle East. The 2011 uprisings reflected that the people of the Middle East and North Africa want freedom and equality.
