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The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring. IAFS 1000. Outline. Tunisian Trigger Misconception re Status Quo Ante Spread of Arab Spring Role of Social Media Implications for Syria Conclusions. Origins. 17 Dec 2010: Mohammed Bouazizi , Tunisian fruit-seller, self-immolated to protest abuse

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The Arab Spring

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  1. The Arab Spring IAFS 1000

  2. Outline • Tunisian Trigger • Misconception re Status Quo Ante • Spread of Arab Spring • Role of Social Media • Implications for Syria • Conclusions

  3. Origins • 17 Dec 2010: Mohammed Bouazizi, Tunisian fruit-seller, self-immolated to protest abuse • Protests spread throughout Tunisia • 14 Jan 2011: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali forced into exile

  4. Tunisian Themes • Focus on economic issues • Mass uprisings spontaneous • Young people central to protests • Uprising successful in driving Ben Ali from office

  5. Misconceptions aboutPre-Rising Status Quo • Autocrats’ tight control of military > varied widely from state to state • Autocrats’ ability to use oil money to buy off disgruntled citizens > yes, except in Libya • Weakness of Pan-Arabism > leaderless revolts won broad Arab following

  6. Repercussions (as of July 2012)

  7. Spread of Unrest • Egypt (Jan-Feb 2011): Mubarak handed power to military • Muhammad Morsi (Muslim Bros) to power • Yemen (Feb 2011-ongoing): Saleh handed power over to crony VP al-Hadi • Bahrain (Feb 2011-ongoing): protests put down by Saudi forces

  8. Spread of Unrest • Libya (Feb-Oct 2011): Gaddafi killed • Jul 2012: parliamentary elections • Syria (Mar 2011-ongoing): military response from government • Jul 2011: emergence of Free Syrian Army (FSA) ~ Nov 2011: civil war

  9. Role of Social Media • Calls to protest on Facebook • Social media a primary news source • Egyptian efforts to limit internet backfired • WaelGhonim (Google): “We Are All Khalid Said”

  10. Social Media Young Egyptians post videos of events in Tahrir Square, 7 Feb 2011) http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/12/25/sunday-review/25YIP_ARABSPRING-4.html

  11. Social Media http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-07/how-pentagon-program-and-hacker-assisted-revolution

  12. Social Media Images: Mandy Terc, “The Arab Spring and Social Media Research” 10 Mar 2012 PPT

  13. Appropriating Well Known Images Images: Mandy Terc, “The Arab Spring and Social Media Research” 10 Mar 2012 PPT http://npgportraits.si.edu/

  14. Social Media “We are all Khalid Said”

  15. Social Media Images: Mandy Terc, “The Arab Spring and Social Media Research” 10 Mar 2012 PPT

  16. Social Media http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/translated-egyptian-protest-signs

  17. Social Media Antigovernment protesters in Bahrain’s Pearl Square Feb. 20. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/12/25/sunday-review/25YIP_ARABSPRING-8.html

  18. “Occupy Yemen”

  19. “Occupy Bahrain”

  20. Social Media Challenges • Anonymity • “Gay Girl in Damascus” hoax • Social media dominated by US private companies • Result of clash of business or national interests?

  21. Arab Spring’s Impact on Syria • Military conflict • Entire country disintegrating • Assad’s Alawite regime supported by China, Russia, and especially Iran > hope to preserve “Shiite Crescent”? new-middle-east.blogspot.com/2012/03/making-sense-of-arab-spring-7-syria-and.html

  22. Arab Spring’s Impact on Syria • Assad opposed by US, Saudi Arabia • Possible proxy war? • Syria at heart of multiple conflicts: • Arab-Israel • Saudi-Iran • US-Russia • Hezbolah-Israel

  23. Conclusions • Complicated events, varying results • Arab Spring not over yet, esp. in Syria • US relations with new Islamist governments? • HaythamBahoora: watch for ongoing conflicts to be coopted by a range of interests for their own purposes

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