Tunisia and the Arab Spring

 

 

Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring with its "Jasmine Revolution"

 

What were the immediate precipitating causes of the “Arab Spring"?

- December 17, 2011: a street  in rural Sidi Bouzid set himself on fire to protest the way authorities treated him

- Demonstrations: protests broke out in other rural areas of the country
- Government reacted with brutal crackdowns and social media restrictions
- Protests continued, when they reached Tunis the government tightened: more brutality and completely shut down the internet
- President rearranged cabinet and promised 300,000 jobs
- January 14, 2012: President and his family fled to Saudi Arabia

What were the long-term causes of the “Arab Spring”?

- Tunisian government corrupt at all levels

- Police brutality very common

- Economy very unstable, rampant inflation raised food prices

- High levels of unemployment

- Low living standards and general lack of human rights

- Government did not acknowledge there were any issues

Who were the key players?

- Mohamed Bouazizi: street vendor who set himself on fire

 

- Tunisian Bar Association: best organized protest group

- Zine el-Abedin Ben Ali: President

What's next for Tunisia?

- Inexperience of interim and new governments could lead to another economic downturn
- Protesters who aren't impressed with new governmental actions could start a second revolution
- Radical Islamists could gain control and again sway human rights


Sources:
http://guides.library.cornell.edu/content.php?pid=259276&sid=2163144
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/tunisia/2011/01/201114142223827361.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/01/201115101926215588.html
http://thinkafricapress.com/tunisia/experts-weekly-what-next-after-belaid-assassination
Images:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15488077
http://blogs.ubc.ca/ludmila/2012/01/29/6-one-year-later-tunisia/
http://www.euromoneycountryrisk.com/Wiki/Tunisia
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/tunisian-govt-says-leader-opposition-party-shot-death-amid-tensions-over-extremists
http://imagina65.blogspot.com/2011/01/la-zona-g8-la-revolucion-trabelsi.html