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The Arab Spring: triggers, dynamics and prospects
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies - Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien
Abstract On 17 December 2010, the self-immolation of Tunisian vegetable vendor Mohammed
Bouazizi sparked the Arab Spring. Within a few months, a wave of protest had swept
away the despots of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Since then protests have been keeping
the region, which has until recently been viewed as ha... view more
On 17 December 2010, the self-immolation of Tunisian vegetable vendor Mohammed
Bouazizi sparked the Arab Spring. Within a few months, a wave of protest had swept
away the despots of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Since then protests have been keeping
the region, which has until recently been viewed as having stable authoritarian regimes
and as being largely resistant to democratization, on edge. Since the outbreak of the Arab Spring, parliamentary elections and constitutional debates have been taking place in North Africa and the Middle East and the public discourse has been defined by open criticism of the remaining autocracies. How fundamental and sustainable these changes will prove to be cannot yet be judged with certainty. However, some striking commonalities can be noted. The initial spontaneity and lightness with which the opposition movements called the regimes into question stunned not only Western observers but also the Arab rulers themselves. After the initial surprise, the remaining autocracies returned - with only limited success to date – to their former methods of stabilizing their rule. The triggers, progression and intensity of the protests have varied from country to country. The reactions of the regimes have also ranged from cautious concessions to violent repression. Most Arab regimes suffer from massive legitimacy deficits, and the citizens are demanding to finally be able to participate more fairly in political, economic and societal events. Their protests exhibit similar symbols and reciprocal references. These parallels make the Arab Spring a momentous and novel event that will have a lasting impact on the region. Numerous Arab countries have seen a strengthening of moderate Islamist parties, which many people now view as competent and reliable alternatives to the existing regimes.... view less
Keywords
islamism; democratization; opposition; political change; Arab countries; Middle East; political regime; protest movement; North Africa
Classification
Political System, Constitution, Government
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
Arab Spring; social movements; democratization; Islamism
Document language
English
Publication Year
2012
City
Hamburg
Page/Pages
8 p.
Series
GIGA Focus International Edition, 1
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works