Arab Spring

The Arab Spring was a chain of revolutions, armed insurrection, riots and protests across the 'Arab World' (much of North Africa and Western Asia) from late 2010 to 2012. The event toppled several dictators, caused several civil wars, led to major reforms and inspired movements like, Occupy, Gezi Park and the Second Arab Spring. It was part of a broader global revolutionary wave from 2008 to 2014.

Causes

Common to all the revolutions, uprisings, strikes, protests and civil wars of the Arab Spring were a combined amount of anger towards economic stagnation and a lack of political freedoms. Additionally, seeing the success of revolts in one country can trigger revolts in another, with the revolt that began in Tunisia, itself inspired by unrest in Spain.

Notable Events

• 2010: Tunisian Revolution
• 2010: Algeria
• 2011: Jordan
• 2011: Omani Uprising
• 2011: Egyptian Revolution
• 2011: Syrian Revolution
• 2011: Yemeni Revolution
• 2011: Djibouti
• 2011: Sudan
• 2011: Iraqi Uprising
• 2011: Bahrain
• 2011: Libya
• 2011: Kuwait
• 2011: Morocco
• 2011: Mauritania
• 2011: Lebanon
• 2011: Saudi Arabian Uprising
• 2011: Palestine
• 2012: Rojava Revolution

Results

Results by Country

• 2010: Tunisia: Creation of a representative democracy with progressive traits.
• 2010: Algeria: Light liberalisation of the government.
• 2011: Jordan: Some democratisation.
• 2011: Oman: Authoritarianism remains but wealth is somewhat redistributed through social programs.
• 2011: Egypt: Brief period of instability followed by military dictatorship.
• 2011: Syria: Civil war between government, military defectors, religious extremists and libertarian socialists. Used as a proxy was between the USA and Russia.
• 2011: Yemen: Resulted in a civil war used as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
• 2011: Djibouti: Protests repressed.
• 2011: Sudan: Secession of South Sudan. Protests repressed.
• 2011: Iraq: Small economic concessions and possible US pullout.
• 2011: Bahrain: Protests repressed. Social spending increased.
• 2011: Libya: Civil war.
• 2011: Kuwait: Slightly increased authoritarianism, several politicians arrested.
• 2011: Morocco: Slight democratisation.
• 2011: Mauritania: Protest repressed.
• 2011: Lebanon: No changes.
• 2011: Saudi Arabia: Limited democratisation and massive expansion of women's rights.
• 2011: Palestine: No changes.
• 2012: Rojava: Creation of a direct democracy committed to gender equality and ecology.

Arab Winter

Main Article: Arab Winter

The Arab Winter describes the civil wars,

The dissatisfaction with the results of the Arab Spring has been a large contributor to the Second Arab Spring, which began in 2018.