Arab Spring-Libya and Tunisia

8/3/2019 Arab Spring-Libya and Tunisia

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The ArabUprising-

Tunisiaand

Libya


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HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF

THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST


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BRIEF HISTORY

The Ottoman era one of the largest and longest lasting

empires in history

Was inspired and sustained by Islam andIslamic institutions.

In 16th and 17th century, controlledterritories in southeast Europe, western

Asia and north Africa. Collapse of the empire as a regime under

a monarchy


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EUROPEAN DOMINATION

Ottomans alliance with Germany in the 1stworld war against British and France.

British and French governments concludedthe war with a secret treaty (Sykes-picot

agreement) to partition the middle eastbetween them.

British mandated territories: Iraq, Palestine,Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman,

Transjordan etc French mandated territories: hatay, Lebanon,Syria, Yemen, Tunisia, morocco, Algeria

Italy: Libya


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ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Conflict between Jewish andZionist yishuvand the Arabpopulation living in Palestine

under Ottoman or Britishrule. British mandate of Palestine

: the Balfour declaration

Arab-Israeli war of 1948


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TUNISIAPolitical historyo French era, world war II and independence: was officially made a French protectorate

according to the treaty of bordo in 1883. was the scene of the third major operations

by the Allied Forces (the British Empire andthe United States) against the Axis Powers(Italy and Germany)

achieved independence from France in 1956led by Habib Bourguiba, who later becamethe first Tunisian President


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Tunisia under Bourguiba(1956-87)

Political rule the Neo-Destour Party

ensured that Tunisia movedquickly with reforms in the

areas of education, theliberation of women, andlegal reforms.

Bourguiba centralized

power under hisprogressive but increasinglypersonalized rule


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Economic life Four stages can be identified in the

countrys post-independence economic lifeunder Bourguiba

Initial stage of attempted economicdecolonization.

Ideological stage of socialist transformation Attempt at stage managed, private sector

funded industrialization The stabilization programme of mid 80s.


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Tunisia under Ben Ali 87-11)

Ben Ali was appointedPrime Minister in October1987, and he assumedthe Presidency on 7November 1987 in a

bloodless coup d'tat. had problems with human

rights violations, such asfreedom of the press.

Ben Ali institutedeconomic reforms thatincreased Tunisia'sgrowth rate and foreigninvestment


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However, Tunisia continued to suffer froma high unemployment, especially among

youth. Ben-Ali's government was deemed

authoritarian and undemocratic byindependent international human rights

groups such as Amnesty International,Freedom House, and ProtectionInternational.

They criticized Tunisian officials for not

observing international standards ofpolitical rights and interfering with thework of local human rights organizations.


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The United States relationship with the

Middle East prior to the Second WorldWar was minimal.

In comparison to European powers suchas Britain and France, the United States

was popular and respected throughoutthe Middle East


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ORIENTALISM A self serving view of the Asians,

Africans and Arabs as decadent, alienand inferior by the west.

For British orientalists, ottomandespotism, Islamic obscurantism and

Arab racial inferiority had combined toproduce a backward culture that wasbadly in need of Anglo-Saxon tutelage.

The waxing of America's power after1945 subconsciously shaped US popularattitudes and foreign policy towards themiddle east.


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Orientalist images of themiddle east and the thirdworld were generated and

disseminated by the nationalgeographic. The subliminal messages

depicted the middle east asbackward, exotic and

occasionally dangerous whohave needed and willcontinue to need USguidance and support.

Release of Disney studios,

Alladin in 1992, confirmedthat orientalism had sunkdeep roots into the USpopular culture.


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OCCIDENTALISM Is a stereotyped and

dehumanizing view of the

Western world, includingEurope and the English-speaking world

ideologies or visions of the West

developed in either the West ornon-West. Occidentalism is often the result

of a hatred of the West as theInfidel.

secular Occidentalism takes theform of a hatred of certain ideasand practices of the West.


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MIDDLE EAST AND THE US

Persian Gulf oil support and protection of the new nation

of Israel

containment of the Soviet Union


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LIBYA

Italian rule, world war II andindependence

The Italian rule in Libya started with the

Italian conquest of coastal Tripolitania andCyrenaica from the Ottomans in 1911. On 21 November 1949, the UN General

Assembly passed a resolution that Libya

should become independent before 1January 1952.


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Kingdom of Libya (1951-1969) On 24 December 1951, Libya declared its

independence with representatives fromCyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzandeclaring a union with the country beingcalled the United Kingdom of Libya.

Two years after independence, on 28March 1953, Libya joined the Arab League.


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In April 1955, oil exploration started in thekingdom with its first oil fields being

discovered in 1959. The first exports began in 1963 with the

discovery of oil helping to transform theLibyan economy, although imposing a

resource curse on Libya. popular resentment grew as wealth was

increasingly concentrated in the hands ofthe elite.


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Libya under Gaddafi Gaddafi became the de

facto leader of thecountry on 1 September1969.

Libyan revolution the RCC headed by

Gaddafi abolished themonarchy and the oldconstitution andproclaimed the newLibyan Arab Republic,with the motto"freedom, socialism, andunity


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In 1988, faced with rising publicdissatisfaction with shortages in consumer

goods and setbacks in Libya's war withChad. began to pursue an anti-fundamentalist

Islamic policy domestically, viewing

fundamentalism as a potential rallyingpoint for opponents of the regime.


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Gaddafi was a majorfinancier of the "BlackSeptember Movement"

which perpetrated theMunich massacre at the1972 Summer Olympics.

became a strong

supporter of the PalestineLiberation Organization,which ultimately harmedLibya's relations withEgypt.

Opposition to theJamahiriya reforms


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Foreign relation principal foreign policy goals: Arab unity,

elimination of Israel, advancement ofIslam, support for Palestinians, eliminationWesterninfluence in the Middle East andAfrica.

supported international terrorism and

subversion against moderate Arab andAfrican governments.

Closure of American and British bases onLibyan territory and partially nationalized

all foreign oil and commercial interests inLibya.


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Unemployment High unemployment in

middle eastern countries,together with low labourforce participation rates,resulted in very low ratiosof employment to

working-age population. the unemployment rate

among those with collegedegrees exceeded 15percent in Egypt, Jordan,

and Tunisia in 2008.


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Wikileaks cables

offered some insight into

the upheaval in Tunisiaand other countries of themiddle east.

overarching theme of the

cables: corruptionwere translated and disseminated through

private websites and social networking sites


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References The modern middle east by Mehran

Kamrava Libya: the struggle for survival by Geoffrey

Leslie Simmons western footprints in middle east by Rashid

Khalidi Tunisia: stability and reform in modern

Maghreb by Christopher Alexander www.britannica.com www.globalissues.org www.wikipedia.com
http://www.britannica.com/http://www.globalissues.org/http://www.globalissues.org/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.globalissues.org/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.globalissues.org/http://www.britannica.com/


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Aftermaths and Implications


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Tunisian Uprising A Brief Timeline

December 17: Mohammed Bouazizi, a fruit and vegetable sellerimmolates himself at Sidi Bouzid. The protests start the sameday. Hundreds rally over rampant unemployment. Scuffle b/w thepolice and the demonstrators follows.

December 28: Ben Ali warns the protestors on nationaltelevision broadcast. Criticizes the use of violence in the streets

by a minority of extremists and says the law will be applied inall firmness to punish the protestors.

January 2: The cyberactivist group Anonymous announcesOperation Tunisia with direct denial of services attack. Struggleb/w the police and the protestors continue throughout

January 5: Bouazizi dies of self-inflicted burns


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January 7: a group of bloggers, journalists, activists and a

rapper arrested

January 8-12: Snipers carry out a series of massacres inKasserine and Thala, shocking the Tunisians throughout thecountry and laying the seeds for the uprising to become anationwide phenomenon

January 13: Ben Ali makes a televised address announcingunprecedented concessions and promises

January 14: Ben Ali imposes a state of emergency and fires thecountrys government. Flees the country with family (He ispresently in Saudi Arabia)

January 15: Tunisias constitutional court appoints FouadMebazza as the interim president replacing MohammedGhannouchi


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January 16: a 4 part series of US Diplomatic Cables released byWikileaks puts US in a bad light

January 17: A new government announced, including several ofBen Alis loyalists in key posts. Tunisians take to the streetsprotesting the lineup of the new government

January 26: Interpol asked to arrest ousted president Ben Ali

and his family

January 27: Reshuffle in the cabinet announced; key ministersof Ben Alis government dropped


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Libya Uprising A Brief Timeline February 17: the official day of the revolt; an effort to bring

thousand of protesters into the streets

February 20: Rebels take Benghazi. Hundreds killed in fighting.Gaddafi starts launching sporadic attacks

March 10: Gaddafi bombs cities; pushes back protesters. Rebelspush for a no-fly zone over Libya


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March 19: NATO starts bombing Libya

May 25: Due to NATO bombing and rebels counter-offensive,Gaddafis forces withdraw from Misrata. Battle for Misrata

declared over

May-August: Struggle continues with rebels progressing, takingcontrol of cities


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August 20-21: Tripoli revolts. Green Square renamed Martyrssquare.

September 15: Nicholas Sarkozy and David Cameron land inLibya

September 16: UN lifts sanctions off Libya; officially recognizesNTC (National Transitional Council) as Libyas sole representative

October 13-19: NTC conquers the final bastions of Gaddafiloyalists

October 18: Hillary Clinton pays an unannounced visit to Libya

October 20: NTC captures Sirte; capture and kill Gaddafi

October 23: NTCs leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil declares theliberation of Libya; promises to uphold the Islamic law


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October 20-24: The bodies of Gaddafi, his son and former aideput in public display in Misrata

October 24: NTC orders probe into Gaddafis death afterinternational pressure

October 25: NTC buries Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and theformer aide at a secret location in the desert


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What Followed: Tunisia

January: The process to form the new government begins

Leader of the banned Congress for the Republic Party (CPR),Marcef Manzouki returns after years of exile in Paris

Leader of the banned Islamist Ennahda Party, Rachid Ghannouchireturns after 22 years of exile

Feb-March: Beji Caid-Essebsi replaces Mohammad Ghannouchias the interim PM. RCD dissolves.

May: Tunisian Higher Election Authority (ISIE) set up to overseeconstituent assembly elections

June: Ben Ali and his wife sentenced in absentia to 35 years inprison


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October 23: Constituent Assembly elections take place. More

than 90% turnout

The Islamist Ennahda party wins the election with 41.5% ofvotes, followed by leftist CPRwith 13.8% and Ettakotal with9.7%

Hamadi Jbeli is the partys preferred choice as the PM candidate


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The New Players

Ettakotal (Democratic Forum for Labour and

Liberties)


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Congress Party for the Republic (CPR)


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Ennahda (The Renaissance)


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Founded under the name ofMovement of the Islamic Tendencyin1981 by Rached Al-Ghannouchi

Al-Ghannouchi returned to Tunisia on January 30, 2011 after 22years of exile in London

Ghannouchi called a thought leader in the process of the Islamistembrace of equal citizenship and equal rights

Began to be described as moderate Islamists in the 80s;advocated democracy and a Tunisian form of Islamism

1989-91: Ennahda banned to participate in elections, thousandsof activists jailed by Ben Ali

In the wake of the Tunisian Revolution, the party legalized onMarch 1, 2011


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Has won the majority of votes in the recently held elections

Biggest and best organized party in Tunisia, outdistancing itsmore secular counterparts

Seeks to form an alliance with the CPR and Ettakotal

Currently rejects radical Islamism

supports workers rights and womens education and states thatSharia law has no place in Tunisia


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What Followed: Libya NTC has been given official recognition by the UN. Mustafa Abdel

Jalil becomes the interim leader


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UN has called a for probe into Gaddafis death after the footage ofhis last moments went public

October 31: NATO formally ends Libya mission

October 31: UNSC votes unanimously to end the no-fly zoneover Libya

Interim PM Mahmoud Jibril steps down to make way forAbdurrahim El Keib

NTC is supposed to elect the cabinet a month from the liberation

Under the NTC Roadmap: elections to be held within 8 months for

a national assembly that will spend a year drawing up a newconstitution before a parliamentary poll


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National Transitional Council


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Current de facto government of Libya

Established by anti-Gaddafi forces during the 2011 Libyan

uprising to act as the face of the revolution

NTC lead the Libyan uprising and the rebels in occupying thecities

March 5, 2011: NTC declared itself to be the only legitimate body

representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state

Chaired by Mustafa Abdul Jalil. Jalil became the Justice Minister inthe Gaddafi government in 2007

Jalil, as a judge, known for ruling consistently against the regime.

Appreciated by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch


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The Response of the West US supported Ben Alis administration for many years, but was a

mute spectator to his ouster

The Wests response to the uprising has been described ashesitant and unwilling

US stayed largely silent till the time Ben Ali fled, upholding their

policy of stability over democracy

France was a strong supporter of the administration throughout.But in the end, it turned its back towards Ben Alis regime

In October though, President Obama pledged US support for

Tunisias political and financial development


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The approach towards Libya was very aggressive on the Westspart

French, British, Italian and Russian supplied weapons to pro-Gaddafi forces initially but they soon changed their allegiance

Before NATO began the attacks, Obama administration imposedeconomic sanctions on Libya, froze its assets in the US and tookGaddafis case to the International Criminal Court

The West whole-heartedly supported NATOs bombing on pro-Gaddafis forces


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Worlds Reaction to Gaddafis Death

US President Barack Obama: For four decades, the Gaddafi

regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist. Their humanrights were denied. Innocent civilians were detained, beaten andkilled. Libya's wealth was squandered and enormous potential ofLibyan people was held back and terror was used as a politicalweapon. Today we can definitively say that the Gaddafi regimehas come to an end.

British PM David Cameron: People in Libya today have an evengreater chance after this news of building themselves a strongand democratic future.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy: The disappearance ofMuammar Gaddafi is a major step forward in the battle fought formore than eight months by the Libyan people to liberatethemselves from the dictatorial and violent regime imposed onthem for more than 40 years.


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After the Uprising Doubts hover around Ennahdas Islamic status in Tunisia

Ennahda trying hard to portray itself as moderate; seekingcoalition with CPR and Ettakotal

The future of the government under National Transitional Council(in Libya) too uncertain owing to its allegiance to Islamic style of

governance

Mustafa Abdel Jalil (NTCs head) promised to scrap laws notconforming to Islamic jurisprudence

Seemingly, both Tunisia and Libya will maintain a friendly and co-

operative relationship with the west, though maintaining a carefulstance against too much intervention.


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References

www.english.aljazeera.net

www.guardian.co.uk www.al-bab.com www.juancole.com The North AfricanMiddle East Uprising from Tunisia to Libya by

Herbert P.Bix The Arab Spring and The Future of US Interests by W. Andrew

Terill
http://www.english.aljazeera.net/http://www.guardian.co.uk/http://www.al-bab.com/http://www.juancole.com/http://www.juancole.com/http://www.al-bab.com/http://www.al-bab.com/http://www.al-bab.com/http://www.guardian.co.uk/http://www.english.aljazeera.net/


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CONTENTS

What is a war? International Law Human Security and Rights UN/UNSC Formation of the NATO Interventions in the past 2 decades The case FOR interventions The case AGAINST interventions Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) The case of Libya The implications of the case of Libya

Conclusion


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WHAT IS A WAR?

D-Day invasion on 6th June, 1944 at Normandy


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WHAT IS A WAR? According to 19th century strategist Carl Von

Clausewitz, war is an act of force intended tocompel our opponents to fulfill our will.

Clausewitz distinguishes between the nature andcharacter of war. Furthermore he also distinguishes

between the objective and subjective nature ofwars.

Since the mid 1980s,Mary Kaldor has suggested acategory of new wars. These are internal conflictscaused due to internal failure of a state.

Today contemporary war is being influenced byglobalization and transnational elements such asNGOs, regional and global media

The emergence of non-state actors like terroristgroups.


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INTERNATIONAL LAW


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INTERNATIONAL LAW It can be best understood as a set of

norms and rules created and practised bynations to facilitate goals, co-existence andavoiding any conflicts or wars.

In modern period law is seen as an

agreement between legal subjects withmutual consent and will.

Customary International Law Emergence of non-state actors such as

international human rights groups,

environment groups. Legal norms evolving to qualify

interventions, challenging traditional ideasof state sovereignty.


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HUMAN RIGHTS ANDSECURITY


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HUMAN RIGHTS & SECURITY

Two conceptions of human security-freedom of want and freedom of fear.

Notion of humans as rights-bearersspecifically European & has grown inimportance post the holocaust.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948 Interventions are justified on account of

gross violations of human rights andsecurity.

UN specialized agencies, NGOs play acrucial role on promoting human security.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) wasestablished in 2002, to put to bookperpetrators of crimes against humanity.


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UN/ UNSC


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UN/UNSC The UN was created post WWII with a viewto maintain global peace and security. For

this sole purpose, the UN Security Councilwas formed.

When UNSC considers a threat tointernational peace, it first tries to settle itunder Chapter VI of the UN Charter. Thecouncil then takes measures to enforce itsdecisions under Chapter VII and on rareoccasions authorizes all necessary means,even military action.

In the case of Libya the UNSC Resolution1973 was implemented. Issues of peace and security also include

human rights and security, overrunningnotions of non-intervention and self-determination.


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UN/ UNSC

Article 2(7) of the UN charter states that Nothingcontained in the present Charter shall authorizethe UN to intervene in matters which areessentially within domestic jurisdiction of anystate.

1991-GA resolution held that The sovereignty,territorial integrity and national unity of States

must be fully respected in accordance with thecharter of the UN. In this context, humanitarianassistance should be provided with the consent ofaffected and in principle on the basis of an appealby the affected country. (A/RES/46/182).

In the outcome document of the 2005 WorldSummit, the GA held that if national authorities

are manifestly failing to protect their populationsfrom genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing andcrimes against humanity and if peaceful means areinadequate, the international community couldtake collective action through the UNSC accordingto Chapter VII of the charter. (A/RES/60/1, para138 and 139.


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FORMATION OF NATO


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FORMATION OF NATO NATO is an organisation that includes

countries of Europe and North America. It was formed post WWII in want of mutual

defense alliance and to counter the

perception of communist expansion. Post the fall of the communist bloc, the NATO

has primarily been involved in militaryinterventions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq etc.

I t ti i t 2 d d


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Interventions in past 2 decades

Clockwise from top: Aphoto of a skull inRwanda, A soldierbeing lowered onSaddam Husseinsshoulder in Iraq,Troops in Afghanistan.


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In the face of Saddam Husseinsoppression of the Kurds in theaftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, theUS, British, French and Dutch militaryforces intervened to provide safehavens. The solidarity vanished whenUS sustained casualties.

The French intervened in Rwanda in1994, for fear of their influencewaning once the Rwandan Patriotic

Front (RPF) comes to power. NATOs intervention in Kosovo in 1999

was a mix of humanitarian concernand national interest.


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Post 9/11 attacks on the pretext ofintervening for humanitarian purposes the USinvaded Iraq and Afghanistan to fight its waragainst terror.

Most controversial has been the failure ofinternational community to respond to theDarfur crisis.

Reasons range from strong refusal bySudanese govt., the case of Iraq &

Afghanistan and vested interests.


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The case FOR intervention

The legal argument, alsolabeled as counter-restrictionist.

The moral case, deriving fromvirtue of common humanity.Human rights violations in

other parts, have an effect oneverybody.


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The case AGAINST intervention

No basis for humanitarianintervention in International law.

States do not intervene for

primarily humanitarian reasons. States are not allowed to risk the

lives of their soldiers to savestrangers.

Intervention does not work

Responsibility to Protect


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Responsibility to Protect(RtoP)


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Responsibility to Protect (RtoP)

The ICISS in its 2001 RtoP report attemptedto resolve issues of human rights &sovereignty.

It placed the onus of protecting citizens on

the states. If states fail or are unwilling, the:principle of non-intervention yields to theinternational responsibility to protect (ICISS2001:xi).

It recognized that the UNSC as the soleauthority to authorize.

It has a 3 pronged approach of prevention,action and rebuilding.

The Rtop was adopted in the 2005 WorldSummit.

The intervention in Libya is the first underthe RtoP umbrella.


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The Case of Libya


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The Case of Libya

Resolution 1970 was adopted on 26thFebruary 2011, deploring what it called thegross and systematic violation of humanrights in strife-torn Libya & referred the

situation to the ICC. As the crisis escalated, the NTC appealed tothe international community to enforce ano-fly zone.

On 19th March, 2011 the Resolution 1973was adopted following which the military

intervention of Libya began. It called for all necessary means to protect

civilians and civilian populated areas fromattack which might include crimes againsthumanity.


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The Case of Libya

Representatives of UK, US, France, NATO& particularly the Arab League & theLeague of Arab Nations supported the text.

The BRIC nations abstained from voting.

Fighting in Libya ended with the captureand death of Muammar Gaddafi on 20thOctober,2011. Following which on 27thOctober, 2011 the UNSC voted to endNATOs presence in Libya by 31st October.

The intervention is now regarded as a

qualified success.


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Implications of the Case of Libya

Analysis drawn from the specialroundtable conducted by theCarnegie Council for their Ethics

and International Affairs Journal. Contributors: Jennifer Welsh

(Oxford), Simon Chesterman(NYU), Alex J. Bellamy(Queensland), James Pattison

(Manchester), and Thomas G.Weiss (City University of NY).

RtoP Alive and Well After Libya by


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RtoP Alive and Well After Libya byThomas G. Weiss

Due to the inconsistentand inconclusiveinterventions in the

1990s, States soughtguidance. With RtoP, military

interventions becamepalatable.

However, militaryintervention is not theonly panacea.

The Ethics of Humanitarian Intervention in


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The Ethics of Humanitarian Intervention inLibya by James Pattison

Raises the just cause question andthe right intention question.

Mission Creep- Was it protection ofcivilians or removal of Gaddafi?

The long-term consequences. Selectivity- why do international

community fail to act in similarsuch cases.

Libya and the RtoP: The Exception and


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Libya and the RtoP: The Exception andthe Norm by Alex J. Bellamy

The Resolution 1973 mentioned RtoPexplicitly for the first time.

Case of Libya different on 2 accounts-clarity of threat and a short time

frame. Prevention of mass atrocities requirea combination of different methods.The will and consensus not availableeverytime.

Examples of Kenya, Guinea, Ivory

Coast The Libyan case was patchy and

imperfect. RtoP should focus on reducing no. of

cases so acute that they requireurgent decision making of this sort.

Civilian Protection in Libya: PuttingC i & C t b k i Rt P


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Coercion & Controversy back in RtoPby Jennifer Welsh

Through Resolution 1973, theUNSC effectively inserted itself in

the struggle. The 3 pillars of RtoP. Pillar 3 which states international

responsibility to RtoP crimes,should elaborate the coercivetools that can be employed.

Leading from Behind: The RtoP, the Obama Doctrine& H it i I t ti ft Lib b Si


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& Humanitarian Intervention after Libya by SimonChesterman

In legal terms, the UNSC authorisationhardly ground-breaking.

Neither RtoP or Res. 1973 havechanged the standing prohibition onthe use of force outside self-defense &SC authorized enforcement action.

RtoP more political.RtoP confers public

power, allocation of responsibility &jurisdiction. Military- ability to intervene

O O


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CONCLUSION

Though the Libyan case hasfinally given RtoP some teethand its now the best understoodform of codification forintervention, interventions atbest are a palliative forimmediate solutions.

For long term solutions, itrequires a never-endingcommitment from the side of the

intervening states. However, inthis realist world, dictated byvested interests, such apossibility seems distant.

C S


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REFERENCES:

The Globalization of World Politics, Baylis and Smith Ethics and International Affairs Journal, Carnegie

Council UN Charter UNDP 1994 UDHR 1948 Resolution 1973: Security Council Approves No fly-

zone over Libya, authorizing all necessarymeasures to protect civilians, by vote of 10 infavour with 5 abstentions

Resolution 1970: In a swift, decisive action,Security Council imposes tough measures on Libyanregime, adopting resolution 1970 in the wake ofcrackdown on protestors.

Images courtesy: Google, Fotosearch, NATOdirectory, UN


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Wh t did


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What did

Social Media

do?

Tunisia


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Tunisia

What triggered the


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ggwhole uprising was avideo (first posted on

Facebook) of the self-emollition of streetvendor MohamedBouazizi which went

viral and awakened thepeople about thesituation in Tunisia.

The video and the

feedback and commentson it sparked nationwideprotests on the streets.

Virtual elements such as


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Virtual elements such asblogs, mobile messaging,YouTube, Facebook,

Twitter, and so on wereinstrumental in fueling theprotest and mediatingtheir live coverage.

The presence of theprotest on Socialnetworking sites wasbrought to local andinternational mediaattention. For example AlJazeera referenced

Facebook for the livecoverage of protests. Social media was said to

be the effective anduncensored news agency.

The citizens of Tunisia


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The citizens of Tunisiabegan to flock socialmedia networks which

fed and fuelled newstations like- Al jazeera,BBC Arabic, France 24,Al-Hiwar, etc.

Tens of thousands

joined Facebook groupsand got to know aboutthe new develepmontsand mobilized forfurther action.

Social activism was infull swing on Facebook,Twitter and blogs.

On state media there hasb t ti d


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been systematic andorganised silence, placinga blackout about the riots

and subsequently starteda campaign of demonisingthe protester as thugs andoutlaws.

In contrast, public

defiance and the displayof popular anger weresustained by new mediaoutlets, like live videostreaming.

Bloggers and Facebook

pages became sites ofnetworking and spaces forexchanging anddisseminating news aboutthe protests.


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Notices like, "Demonstration at 4pm, meet in

town centre", became common features of socialactivism on Facebook pages. Faced with a fierce and unprecedented cyber war,

and in an attempt to curb the influential impact ofsuch networks, the government decided to employnew measures of hacking and jamming Facebook

pages and personal home pages of activists. 'Error 404', an error message that comes up oncomputer screens whenever someone's account ishacked, became known to activists as 'Ammar 404',taking the name of the government's internetcensor.

Tunileaks was founded and madeimmensely popular.


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y p p Bloggers and social activities on the

internet and satellite TV forced formerpresident Ben Ali to flee the country.

Tunisians declared Victory on socialnetworks and Twitter went berserk withtraffic.

The subsequent caretaker governmentpromised to open up to the outragedpublic by freeing the media, securing

justice for all, and an invitation to the'opposition' for a free dialogue.

Lib a


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Libya

Libya protest newssite onFacebook devoted to


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ongoing revolution. The sitecurrently has several likesand posts about the events

unfolding. One of the libya news and

media Facebook pages hasover 21,500 likes onFacebook, with plenty ofpeople posting their

thoughts on the recentevents in Libya. The micro-blogging site was

an incredibly powerful toolduring moments of politicalupheaval, giving real time

updates about the protest. Twitter handles such as

@Feb17Libya and@Shabablibya gained masspopularity.

Youtube made the worldwitness history through the
http://www.eventuresincyberland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Libya.jpghttp://www.eventuresincyberland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Libya.jpg


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y gprotest videos uploaded bycitizens.

The Al Jazeera Live

Blog used video, audio, text,RSS feeds, tags, andrecommendation feeds tomake the most for theirvisitors.

In the second week of

February 2011, when theGovernment shut down theinternet, this move backfiredas the protest went out onthe streets and a day ofrage was decided as the day

the civil war wouldcommence on the 17th ofFebruary 2011.

The news of Gaddafis deathand photos spread instantlyon twitter and Facebook
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How did socialmedia help

create andsustain a

revolution?


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Social media facilitates the conveyance of

information in an important new way,from ordinary people on the ground.

Social media spreads the capacity to

document human rights abuses beyondthe mainstream media and non-government organisations in the manyparts of the globe now reached by theinternet.

Social media amplifies the message of


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o a d a a p ag othose connected.

An important new vista in access toinformation has arisen on the internetoutside the social media field with theadvent of Wikileaks, a whistleblower

website which solicits information,including classified information, andpublicises that information in its primaryform, largely but not totally unredacted,

on its site and in partnership with variousnewspapers around the world.

A reaction from people is bound to get


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A reaction from people is bound to getamplified in a case where relevant sites areblocked by certain repressive States.

Social media aided in Grassroots mobilization.

Organizes the rise of civil society and active

citizenship.

I acts as a Counter rumour or propagandatool.

It helps people analyze governmentstatements.


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What couldhave beenthe reason

it worked

oc a ons ruc on sTheory


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Theory Social constructionism is a sociologicaltheory of knowledge that considers how social

phenomena or objects of consciousness developin social contexts.

A social construction (also called a socialconstruct) is a concept or practice that is theconstruct (or artefact) of a particular group.

In the context of the Arab Spring and Socialmedia, a social construct was created in thevirtual space which lead to a mass uprising aspeople could identify with the creators of the

revolution in the virtual spaces and theirdiscontent which was the same as masses. It wasthe social construction of a reality.

Denis McQuail, One-to-M


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Many Denis McQuail in his theory of MassCommunication, mentions how in a system

where communication is involved at such alarge scale it is bound to spread at a rapidrate through a system wherein the

information spreads from one to many andfrom each of those many to a furthernumber. It creates a trickle down effect.

In the Arab Spring, the protest started with alittle spark, and before anyone could imagine

through the spread of information online andvideos going viral, it turned into a massiverevolution.


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Skeptics

Argue

Otherwise

M l l Gl d ll


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One prominent sceptic regarding the role ofsocial media in progressive social andpolitical change is the New Yorkers

Malcolm Gladwell.He argues in an article published in October

2010 that real social change is broughtabout by high risk meaningful activism.

Malcolm Gladwell

S i l di ti t k


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Social media connections promote weakties and low risk activism, so called

slacktivism. The liking of something onFacebook, or the retweeting of a story,require little effort, yet might lull theprotagonists into thinking they are doingsomething meaningful.

Successful activism requires strategic

hierarchies, with a careful and preciseallocation of tasks,

Networks dont have a centralized


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Networks don t have a centralizedleadership structure and clear lines of

authority, they have real difficultyreaching consensus and setting goals.

Social media is a conservative force in

promoting activism as it distracts peoplefrom real activism, perhaps by deludingthem into thinking that they are in factchanging things when all they areprobably doing is adapting within theexisting status quo.


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While social media may create quicker and

louder conversations, it may also generateshallower and shorter conversations whichare easily displaced by the next new bigthing.

Conclusion


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Conclusion

References


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References www.washingtonpost.com www.wikileaks.com www.neteffect.com www.libyaliveblog.com www.al-jazeera.com

www.wikipedia.com www.google.co.in www.sociologicalimages.com Social Media, Human Rights and Political

Change- Sarah Joseph

Social Media in the Arab World- JeffryGhannam Various Facebook pages and Blogs
http://www.wikileaks.com/http://www.washingtonpost.com/http://www.neteffect.com/http://www.libyaliveblog.com/http://www.libyaliveblog.com/http://www.al-jazeera.com/http://www.libyaliveblog.com/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.google.co.in/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.sociologicalimages.com/http://www.sociologicalimages.com/http://www.sociologicalimages.com/http://www.sociologicalimages.com/http://www.google.co.in/http://www.wikipedia.com/http://www.al-jazeera.com/http://www.al-jazeera.com/http://www.al-jazeera.com/http://www.libyaliveblog.com/http://www.neteffect.com/http://www.wikileaks.com/http://www.washingtonpost.com/


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Media and Conflict


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Media and Conflict Media , conflict and war are deeply

interconnected.

People learn about conflict and violence through

media.

Media not only informs us about conflict buthelps to formulate public opinion.

This idea is linked with the normative theory ofSocial Responsibilty.

Keeping in mind the social responsibility media


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p g p ymodel, the media can and the media has playeda very important role during conflicts.

Despite the fact that numerous media theoriesstate that the media has a social responsibilitytowards the society in reality the dual-nature of

media hinders its social purpose.

Dual-nature of media creates numerous filtersthat decide what will make news.

'If it bleeds, it leads'

News which will grab eyeballs makes it to the


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News which will grab eyeballs makes it to thefront page.

Conflict and violence make news as news isperceived as whats exciting and different.

News is what will be in sync with the political

economy of media.

Media owners remain more inclined to makemoney by capitalizing on tensions and conflict.

Bad news is good news

The basic criterion of news value helps cover


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conflict extensively.

Immediacy, drama, simplicity, impact andethnocentrism etc.

News media are important actors in conflict.

But they are not the most important players.

They react to events rather than initiate them.

CNN Effect


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CNN Effect Defines the nexus between media power and

foreign policy.

Media images fire public opinion and demand

immediate action from the government.

Its a catchall phrase

Postulates that the development of 24-

hour international television news channels havea major impact on the conduct of acountrys foreign policy .

Helps shape and reshape the foreign policy.


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p p p g p y

The strength of the fourth estate has an impacton the government.

The strength/ power has increased with thearrival of new technology.

The media may function alternately orsimultaneously as

1. apolicy agenda-setting agent,

2. an impedimentto the achievement of desiredpolicy goals, and3. an accelerantto policy decision making.

24/7 media has radically altered the way foreign


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24/7 media has radically altered the way foreignpolicy is conducted.

It has also destroyed the concept of a "newscycle."

CNN effect- Myths


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CNN effect- Myths It makes life more difficult for foreign policy

makers.

It dictates what's on the foreign policy

agenda.

Pictures of suffering force officials tointervene.

There is nothing officials can do about theCNN Effect.


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TIME Magazine - History


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TIME Magazine - History Time is the world's largest weekly news magazine

with a domestic audience of 20 million and a globalaudience of 25 million.

It was established on March 3, 1923.

Termed as the worlds most influential magazine.TIME has documented a comprehensive history- bothwritten and photographic- of the last century.

Though it is a weekly magazine specialcommemorative issues are also published to markspecial events.


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The magazine is dominated by Republican pointof view

TIME stories often also have a strong point ofview but reflect open-minded reporting ratherthan partisan biases.

Based in New York City, TIME has eightInternational Editions in more than 150countries.

Asian edition (Time Asia) is based in Hong Kong.

TIME ASIA- Editorial


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TIME ASIA- Editorial Asia Editor- Zoher Abdoolcarim Senior Editor- Liam Fitzpatrick Associate Editors- Krista Mahr, Emily Rauhala

TIME US and ASIA mostly publish the samearticles.

Few reporters, mostly guest columnists andcontributors.

The editorial staff is heavily dominated bywesterners.

ruc ure o eMagazine


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Magazine A single photograph dominates the cover. Inbox Briefings World

Cover Story Features Editorial 10 Questions

Number of Stories


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Number of Stories

6

3

1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Arab Spring Libya Tunisia

Cover Stories

Cover Stories

Month Wise


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Month Wise

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Arab SpringTunisia

Libya

Inbox Briefing World


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Inbox, Briefing, World

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

INBOXBriefing

World

Photographs-


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Photographs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Arab Spring Libya Tunisia

Feature

Cover

SpreadFull Page

Half

Others

Black & White

Month Wise


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Month Wise

0

5

10

15

20

25

30Photographs

Photographs


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Conclusion


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Conclusion Though the event broke out in Dec, no till Jan 24.

First covered in briefings, World and then moveson to features, cover stories, editorials.

The change in terminology used to describe theTunisian dictator.

From role model to Authoritarian

Similar terms used to describe the regime of


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Hosini Mobarak and his supporters.

A stark difference between how Gaddafis regimeis described and that of USs allies.

TIME states that it is a revolution and not an

evolution(Feb 14)

The Islamists have won. (Nov 7)

The role of US has constantly been highlighted inbringing democracy.

While describing the Arab world stereotypes have


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been used (Nov 7, Sep5)

Similar tactics that were employed in Iraq andAfghanistan were used to justify the NATOintervention (women, democracy).

Photographs have been used extensively toexplain the Arab Spring.

From small thumbnails to photo features.

The use of black and white and red.

Max no. of articles and photographs in the


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p g pmonths preceding and immediately following the

NATO intervention.

ro ems ace y eMedia


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Media

Authoritarian governments rarely have any freemedia.

State- owned media houses, thus media used bygovernment.

Not used to express alternative views

Journalists were not given the permission toenter countries where Arab Spring took place.

In Libya journalists started getting access intothose areas which were controlled by the rebels.

Al- Jazeera was the only channel that constantly


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and consistently reported about the Arab spring-

right from Dec.

It had easier access- more regional thaninternational.

Despite being pro- revolution Al- Jazeerareceived flak for not reporting much on Bahrain.(Qatari)

Barely any academic work on the role ofinternational media in the Arab spring.

Created by:

-


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y Namrata Tibrewal (history & background) Manira Chaudhary (aftermath & implications) Anubha Sarkar (military intervention) Arushi Kapoor (role of social media) Akanksha Narain (media coverage)


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Thank you for your

attention

Arab Spring-Libya and Tunisia

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Transcript of Arab Spring-Libya and Tunisia