The Middle East, Post-Arab Spring: 5 years on– An Unfinished movement

Zena Chamas, April 1, 2016

2011 birthed the ‘’Arab Spring’’, coined by an America academic; the term refers to the uprising in the Middle East. But, since then, what has the Arab spring accomplished? What is the state of the Middle East now, five years on?

Arab Spring refers to the revolt that saw a revolutionary wave of protests, riots and civil wars in the Middle East. Some might say it started on December 18th 2010 in Tunisia, and erupted through to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

The repercussions of the Arab Spring, hit Syria hard, some analysts say that it is one of the major causes of the ongoing civil war in Syria at the moment. So, what did the Arab Spring movement really create?

The protestors came with demands; an end to oppressive governments, and a call for revolutionary democracy. Some of the demonstrations were met with violence, coming from both government authorities, and political disagreements within social groups, causing uproar between neighbours and friends, and as a result, a civil war erupted.

Tunsia

The fall of Tunisia’s President, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali inspired pro-democracy movements throughout the Arab world. It all began, in December of 2010, where a bold protest took the life of 25-year-old, Tarek Al-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi, he set fire to himself, after he was denied the right to sell vegetables in Sidi Bouzid. The brave death of Bouazizi sparked community outrage, and mass protests around the country, and shortly after, throughout the Arab world.

Algeria, Jordan and Oman followed suit, although the protests were inspired by Bouazizi’s bold action, the revolution had been brewing for years. There was a sense of frustration in the air, people were standing up and voicing their opinions, fed up with years of economic hardship, corruption, and autocratic rule.

The uprising forced Ben Ali to resign in January 2011, after 23 years in power, and later, Saudi Arabia sentenced him to life in prison.

Fiver years on, Tunisia is ruled by Veteran dissident Mocef Marcouski, after the moderate Islamist Ennahda party won the majority vote, in the democratic parliamentary elections.

Egypt

The uprising in Tunisia contagiously resulted in demonstrations in Tahrir Square, Cario, with hopes of President Mubarak’s downfall. He was overthrown quickly, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood took place. With the country divided the police and army, which had supported Mubarak and secularism also had a dominant presence, raging a war against the Muslim Brotherhood, leaving the people of Egypt in a bitter division.



Syria

It’s safe to say that the Arab Spring, didn’t work out well for Syria, with the rise of Islamic State, terrorising the idea of greater freedom. Post Arab Spring, there are two conflicting ideologies are at play: secularism and the desire for a more fundamental Islam.

President of Syria, Bashar Assad, is on the opposing hand of ISIS. Having survived against the revolutionists, his support remains strong in Syria. There are secular divisions, but even those in the West, prefer him to Islamic State.

Six weeks prior to the uproar in Darra, Assad says his people do not want an uprising.

“Why is Syria stable, although we have more difficult conditions? Egypt has been supported financially by the United States, while we are under embargo by most countries of the world. We have growth although we do not have many of the basic needs for the people. Despite all that, the people do not go into an uprising. So it is not only about the needs and not only about the reform. It is about the ideology, the beliefs and the cause that you have. There is a difference between having a cause and having a vacuum.” Syrian President Bashar Assad, January 31 in interview with The Wall Street Journal.

We’re left wondering , did the Arab Spring really affect the Middle East in a positive way? It’s hard to really say, with the state of the world in constant alert, from the terrors of Islamic state, a new evil has emerged, holding black flags, and severed heads. It doesn’t seem like the Arab Spring, really changed much at all. Syria, is proof of that.

The Arab Spring, created an ideology, that saw the people rise against their government, but it also caused a new evil to emerge, preaching a new dictatorship, shedding the blood of all those in it’s way, post-Arab Spring, the people of Syria were given a choice, either pledge elegance to the Islamic state or flee.

On the one hand, the choice was, be forced into Islamic fundamentalism, and oppression with violent extremism, but on the other hand, if they stay, the old Syria would remain unchanged, and they might be forced between fighting their neighbours and friends, over minute differences. Naturally, many chose to flee, seeking refuge.

What has happened to the Syrian people since the Arab Spring? The displacement of millions of Syrian refugees, forced to flee their homes. They set out to seek refuge, a better life, a life of freedom and democracy, and freedom from the heavy chains of tyranny by Islamic state. In all this chaos, the people have suffered the most, the Syrian people have been worse off since the Arab Spring, and it’s hard to even call it a revolution anymore.

The mass exodus of Syrian refugees has been marked the biggest human catastrophic incident since world war two.

The ideology of the Arab Spring, may have started as a means for freedom from oppression, searching for peace and equality for all, rather dying free than living one more day in oppression, but it’s clear that the Arab Spring, was merely just an idea.

With its people divided, Syrian’s were forced into a civil war, with prospects of a new beginning holding on by a string, the people of Syria have lost in this battle for freedom, with doubts of ever returning safely to their homes.

If there ever was an Arab Spring, Islamic State has made sure to keep the state of the Middle-East in frantic chaos, with it’s roots deeply buried in Iraq and Syria, it’s safe to say, the Arab Spring is now a thing of the past, and perhaps, an unfinished idea.