Arab Spring
Although there have been other uses, the term Arab Spring is now taken to refer to the sequence of protest movements that started with the successful uprising in Tunisia that began in December 2010. The subsequent protest movements in other Arab countries were mainly motivated by a wish to put an end to what was perceived as government oppression, corruption and incompetence. Many sought to go so by introducing a measure of democratic accountability, but the various national movements had little else in common, apart from confidence inspired by the Tunisian success.
Overview
Background: the Arab condition
The countries involved in the Arab Spring include:
- two mixed oil economies (Algeria and Libya);
- three oil economies (Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia);
- six diversified economies (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia); and,
- one primary export economy (Yemen}