ARAB SPRINGARAB SPRING

WHERE?

Middle East & Northern Africa

WHO?

People in countries across the Middle East and Northern Africa

In many instances, young people played a large role in the demonstrations

WHAT?

The decision of people to unite in revolutionProtests and demonstrationsOften acts of civil disobedience

Peaceful protests, non-violent methodsSit-ins, marches, boycotts, rallies

In some cases the demonstrators were met with violent responses from authorities and did respond with violence

“Leave already, my arm hurts!”

WHY?

The desire for new leadershipOppressive dictators have/had

been ruling countries for many years

The desire for political and economic reforms.Corruption within the governmentHigh unemployment (esp. among

the younger population)

Ranking out of 178 countries

Median

WHEN?

Began in December 2010 when a 26-year-old Tunisian named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire. “It was an extreme act by a

young man who had reached the end of his tether after being banned from selling fruit to earn a living but it triggered a remarkable series of events that became known as the Arab Spring.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube played a large role in the demonstrationsCarried messages about

freedom and democracyOrganized actionsAllowed people to discuss and

evaluate leaders

RESULTS

To date, rulers have been forced from power in Tunisia, Egypt Libya, and Yemen

Uprisings and major protests have erupted in Bahrain, Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman

Minor protests have occurred in Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara