Arab Spring: History, Revolution & Facts

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democratic uprisings covering many Muslim countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, and Bahrain. It was named the Arab Spring because these uprisings started in the spring of 2011. It first began in Tunisia and spread towards Eqypt. It was through this uprising that the protestors were mainly addressing their various political and economic grievances against their authoritarian rule.

In this article, we will discuss the Jasmine Revolution and its chronology, time frame, consequences, and impacts on the Arab Spring in the neighboring Arab nations.

Arab Spring: Overview

Time Frame	Events
December 17, 2010	Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old street vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire because he was mistreated by the police.
January 14, 2011	Tunisia’s President Ben Ali resigned and eloped to Saudi Arabia.
January 25, 2011	The first mass protest was held in Cairo.
February 2011	Protestors in several Muslim countries staged “Days of Rage”, in favor of democratic government.
February 11, 2011	Abdication of Mubarak in Egypt
May 22, 2011	Protestors in Morocco are beaten up by the police.
July 1, 2011	Protestors in Morocco approved the constitutional changes to limit the power of the monarch.
August 20, 2011	Rebels in Libya attacked Tripoli.
September 23, 2011	A “Million Man March” was held in Yemen which was a pro-democratic 26-year-old
October 20, 2011	The dictator in Libya was killed by the rebels.
October 23, 2011	The first democratic parliamentary election was held in Tunisia
November 28, 2011	The first democratic election was held in Egypt.

Arab Spring: Meaning

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democratic uprisings covering many Muslim countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, and Bahrain. It was named the Arab Spring because these uprisings started in the spring of 2011. It first began in Tunis and then spread towards Eqypt. It was through this uprising that the protestors were mainly addressing their various political and economic grievances against their authoritarian rule.

Arab Spring: The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia

The uprising began when a 26-year-old street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi, self-immolated by setting himself on fire. He was denied setting up his vegetable shop by the local policemen. This incident acted as a catalyst where a small movement named the “Jasmine Revolution”, became very famous in the media and inspired other countries.

The influence of the Jasmine Revolution was very robust, leading to the abdication of the authoritarian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled with an iron fist for more than 20 years. He fled to Saudi Arabia.

After his abdication, the country’s first democratic parliamentary was held in Tunisia in the year 2011. It was the first country who witness a peaceful transfer of power from autocratic rule to a democratic government. The President and the Prime Minister were elected democratically. A new Constitution was also formed in January 2014.

The Jasmine Revolution inspired a wave of revolution in the Middle East and North Africa.

Arab Spring: Chronology of the Jasmine Revolution

Time Frame	Event
December 17, 2010	Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old street vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire because he was mistreated by the police.
December 24, 2010	A protestor was killed by the government while he was protesting in the demonstration in the town of Menzel Bouziane.
January 12, 2011	As the protest intensified, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, made his appearance in the media and claimed that the protest was the work of the extremists.
January 13, 2011	Ben Ali removed the minister of interior, Refak Belhaj Kacem. But, this action was not able to silence the demonstrators.
January 13, 2011	Ben Ali made his appearance on state television and he was ready to negotiate. He vowed that he wouldn’t stand for re-election in 2014 and would bring many social, political, and economic reforms. The demonstrators were not ready to accept the negotiations.
January 14, 2011	the protest grew more violent. He announced a state of emergency and promised that a new legislative election would be held within six months. His announcements were not able to quell the uprising. Ben Ali and his family eloped.
January 17, 2011	Tunisia’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazza promised to form a new government with the help of the opposition members. However, it was worthless as the ministers under Ben Ali were given the power to retain their respective portfolios within the new government.
January 20, 2011	The Democratic Constitutional Rally, the party under Ben Ali was dissolved and the members of the Interim government left the party.
January 26, 2011	An international warrant was issued to arrest Ben Ali.
February27, 2011	Amid allegations that the interim government had links with Ben Ali’s government, Mohammed Ghannouchi stepped down from his position and was replaced by Beji Caid Sebsi as the interim Prime Minister.
March 3, 2011	Mebaza announced that a constitutional council will be formed through an election on July 24. The council will be responsible for the drafting of the Constitution.
March 9, 2011	The Democratic Constitutional Rally was officially dissolved by Tunisia’s court and it was banned from future elections.
April 11, 2011	The Tunisian Ministry of Justice announced that a case was filed against Ben Ali.
May 10, 2011	An interim electoral body was formed for an election scheduled for July 24, 2011
June 20, 2011	Ben Ali and his family were found guilty and they were sentenced to 35 years in prison, while they were in exile.
October 23, 2011	Elections were held to determine the composition of the Constituent Assembly.
November 22, 2011	The inaugural session for the new Constituent Assembly was held.
December 10, 2011	An interim constitution was formed until the final Constitution was approved.
December 12, 2011	Moncef Marzouki, a very strong contender of Ben Ali was elected as the President of Tunisia by the Constituent Assembly.
December 14, 2011	Hamadi Jebali was elected as the Prime Minister of Tunisia by Moncef

Arab Spring: Libya

• In Libya, people started protesting against the rule of Muammar al-Qaddafi. The protest turned into an armed rebellion in February 2011.
• The rebels were supported by NATO, to launch an air strike against the Qadaffi’s force.
• Qadaffi was able to continue his rule in the capital Tripoli, for several years. But, in August 2011, the rebels took control over Tripoli.
• But after his death, Libya did not attain peace as the struggle to exert political power was still going on which led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Arab Spring: Syria

• Syria witnessed civil war just after the Arab Spring, due to which many left the country and sought refuge in the neighboring countries.
• The Civil War was fought between the militant group ISIS, who wanted to declare Caliphate rule against the oppressive dictatorial rule of Bashar al Assad.
• Although, Bashar al-Assad remained in power.

Arab Spring: Causes

Some of the important causes related to the Arab Spring are as follows:-

• Autocratic Rule – Many Arab countries had autocratic rulers who threatened the liberties and fundamental rights of the citizens. The rulers were also accused of being corrupt, which altogether caused widespread resentment among the citizens.
• Youth Unemployment – The protests were led by the youth who were frustrated because of the lack of employment opportunities. In the Arab countries, the youth population remains the highest within the age group of 25 to 30.
• Low Standard of Living Middle-class – The middle-class family as well as the rural population faced a lot of problems due to economic inequality and an increase in the standard of living.
• Freedom Of Press – Restrictions were imposed on the press through the use of Censorship. The Press were denied the right to criticize the press.
• Regional Influences – The success of one protest group paved the way for more protest movements all over Europe. The chain became much stronger with the help of various social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The social activists and the protestors were in constant touch with each other through the use of such social sites.
• Women Empowerment – Women also became a part of the protest movement to address the various gender inequality that was meted out to them. They were protesting for developing a safe and secure environment. They were speaking more about the injustice that they were facing.

Arab Spring: Consequences

• Political Change – The Arab Spring led to the abdication of autocratic rulers all over the Arab countries. Democracy was established in these nations, and free and fair elections were held along with the drafting of new Constitutions in some cases.
• Social Awakening – These protest movements created a spark of political consciousness especially among the youth. They demanded accountability from the government, transparency, and protection of basic human rights.
• Economic Repercussions– The economy of the Arab nations declined considerably due to the ongoing unrest. The impact was seen more in tourism and investments.
• The rise of Non-State Actors – The political void that was created after the abdication of the monarch, provided a ground for various extremist groups like ISIS to fill up the void in most of the Arab nations.

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Conclusion

Tunisia stands out as a success story related to the Arab Spring. It was one of the first countries in the Arab that witnessed a democratic form of government, after a lot of violent protests. The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, paved a path of inspiration for all the Arab nations to fight for democracy and protection of Fundamental Rights. But, it is still an ongoing history because there are many Arab nations presently, who are still fighting for their political justice and social reforms.

FAQs Related to the Arab Spring

What was the Arab Spring?

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democratic uprisings covering many Muslim countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, and Bahrain. It was named as Arab Spring because these uprisings started in the spring of 2011. It first began in Tunis and then spread towards Eqypt. It was through this uprising that the protestors were mainly addressing their various political and economic grievances against their authoritarian rule.

What is Arab Spring for dummies?

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy uprisings that spread across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010. It began in Tunisia and quickly spread to countries like Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, among others. People protested against oppressive regimes, corruption, human rights violations, and economic issues, demanding political reform and greater freedom.

What is Arab Spring known as?

The Arab Spring is also known as the “Democracy Spring.”

Why was the Arab Spring called Spring?

The term “Spring” in “Arab Spring” refers to the notion of a season of political renewal and rebirth. It draws on historical precedents like the “Prague Spring” of 1968, symbolizing a period of political thawing or awakening. The term implies a hopeful, rejuvenating movement towards democracy and reform in Arab countries, starting in late 2010.

When was Arab Spring started?

The Arab Spring began in December 2010.