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

2. 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

3. 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.