The Beginning and the Results of the Arab Spring

Introduction

The Arab Springs was a major movement that played a big role in the change of government in the Arab Countries. The Arab countries resented the dictatorship they were under. The Government was raising prices, causing unemployment, and there was corruption within. This uprising was starting at the time of the leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The Start of the Revolution

This time period became known as “The Year of Revolution”. This revolution began when one man was humiliated by a policewoman. A man was out selling fruit without a vendors permit. This was his form of income for his widowed mother and six brothers and sisters. One day while he was selling goods a police woman came up to him and asked for his license to sell. He didn’t have one so she attempted to take the cart. When he refused she had possibly slapped him. Sidi Bouzid was humiliated and expressed that by lighting himself on fire in front of a government building. After a few days protests started popping up all over the Arab states. The people wanted the president and his regime to step down. After a month the President fled.

The Results of the Protests

The human death toll was around 33,000 people. People were protesting, the government was mad, people were killed. The result of all this protesting is partially good and partially bad. One really good result of the protests was the end of dictatorships. Instead of using military revolt the people just had to use grassroots popular revolts. Second, there was an explosion of political activity. After the end of dictators political groups started popping up everywhere. There was also some bad things that came out of the protesting. First was civil war and conflict. The older form of power had fallen and every one was scrambling. second was economic problems. With no strong government people are left unemployed and foreign tourist are being scared of by conflict.

Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Syria were all affected by the protests. There were other countries affected to. Egypt’s economy had collapsed causing tourists to leave or be to fearful to visit. The police force was weak and there was only one political party.

Jordan came out of the Arab Spring with no problems. Most aren’t really sure why but some people think that Jordan was publicly mature. Unlike other countries Jordan took the situation and and handled it. All of the refugees they took in with an organized manner. The country also had its own official “Web Masters”. Jordan also got funding from the west. All these factors helped Jordan hold strong during the Arab Spring.

Kuwait is a small territory but their protest grow larger and speak louder every time. Rulers of Kuwait have tried to cal the anger of the people buy sharing wealth. This wealth comes from the Kuwait oil industries. In a February the citizens were given 1,000 Kuwait Dinars and food staples for over a year. 1,000 Kuwait dinars is equal to 3,340 US dollars. This was done to maintain the countries stability.

Syria had been one territory that Bashar Al Assad said wouldn’t be affected. When Arab Springs hit Assad ran to stop the situation but only made it worse. Rebel forces formed to fight Assad’s men and then the country fell into civil war. More than 250,000 men, women, and children lost their lives to this protest.

If the rest of the world had intervened the outcome of the Arab Spring might have been better for some countries and worse for others. Not only can it affect the countries caught in the middle but it can also affect the countries that are trying to intervene. International relationships could be damaged. Most of the countries protesting still remained in a good economic position but others were faltering or had already crumbled. In the end countries had to struggle to rebuild there economy and some probably still are.

Conclusion

The Arab Spring had a big affect on all the Arab and some of the african countries. Protests were held, lives were lost, and wars were fought. All in all mistakes were made and some problems were resolved. The Arab Spring changed how the government in Arab states was controlled. Protests changed how people live now

Sources

1. “The International Relations of the Arab Spring.” Middle East Policy Council, www.mepc.org/international-relations-arab-spring.
2. “Syria: The Story of the Conflict.” BBC News, BBC, 11 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868.
3. Staff, National. “The Arab Spring Country by Country.” The National, The National, 16 June 2011, www.thenational.ae/world/the-arab-spring-country-by-country-1.401358.
4. Manfred, Primoz. “10 Reasons for the Arab Spring in 2011.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/the-reasons-for-the-arab-spring-2353041.
5. US News, www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/death-toll-of-arab-spring?slide=2.