Within the past month, Tunisia has witnessed a large popular uprising culminating in and galvanized by familiarly recognizable protests over poor economic prospects/conditions and the heavy-handed regime-sanctioned crackdowns on the street. Called the "Jasmine Revolution" the nearly-month-long uprising is particularly significant in the high speed, and especially in the civilian source of its projection [although this assumption that the final blow was dealt by popular pressure has now been disputed], with which intense drama has unfolded. At any rate, what we have witnessed is nothing short of remarkable.
The MENA (Middle East and North Africa region) has witnessed several revolts, protests, coups, insurrections, and wars challenging regimes and status-quo environments even in the post-colonial era. Yet such past challenges, despite the varying circumstances in which they were born, have almost uniformly yielded little. The most significantly emerging fruit here has, as many commentators will have undoubtedly pointed out, often been merely changes of names. That, at most, touted changes have been often suspected of carrying the stitching marks of elaborate cosmetic surgeries: that wounds---old and new---have been repackaged hastily without regard to considerations over fully healing.
In contrast to this, the recent and continuing Tunisian dynamics brings to focus serious questions regarding the sustainability of political systems and economic systems in uncertain times. At a deeper more specific level, they once again put the spotlight on the wisdom and viability of exercising governmental authority in a repressive and over-aggressive manner (combined with what has been seen as periodic crumbs and general widespread official apathy), in the region. Leaders, pundits, and officials are quick to either proclaim or dismiss the possibility of the "Tunisian Scenario" on the airwaves, in blogs, and on social media sites. In trying to get a hold over understanding the seemingly dizzying weeks, I present in no particular sequence a list of news articles and op-eds that put Tunisia's events in the broader regional contexts (not a completely exhaustive list, but one that can hopefully be sufficiently representative). Of course, much more information and analysis will be available in the days and weeks to come ...
[Note: a temporary caretaker cabinet has been set up to organize elections, stabilize the country, and to implement reforms and head inquiry commissions over corruption and Ben Ali's regime's response to the protests. But the retention of Ben Ali officials for the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Interior Minister (responsible for internal security) posts in the new 'unity government' has left many Tunisians skeptical and angry. A fresh round of protests has been reported, along with the resignation of 3 independent members of the cabinet, barely a day after the new cabinet announcement.]
The MENA (Middle East and North Africa region) has witnessed several revolts, protests, coups, insurrections, and wars challenging regimes and status-quo environments even in the post-colonial era. Yet such past challenges, despite the varying circumstances in which they were born, have almost uniformly yielded little. The most significantly emerging fruit here has, as many commentators will have undoubtedly pointed out, often been merely changes of names. That, at most, touted changes have been often suspected of carrying the stitching marks of elaborate cosmetic surgeries: that wounds---old and new---have been repackaged hastily without regard to considerations over fully healing.
In contrast to this, the recent and continuing Tunisian dynamics brings to focus serious questions regarding the sustainability of political systems and economic systems in uncertain times. At a deeper more specific level, they once again put the spotlight on the wisdom and viability of exercising governmental authority in a repressive and over-aggressive manner (combined with what has been seen as periodic crumbs and general widespread official apathy), in the region. Leaders, pundits, and officials are quick to either proclaim or dismiss the possibility of the "Tunisian Scenario" on the airwaves, in blogs, and on social media sites. In trying to get a hold over understanding the seemingly dizzying weeks, I present in no particular sequence a list of news articles and op-eds that put Tunisia's events in the broader regional contexts (not a completely exhaustive list, but one that can hopefully be sufficiently representative). Of course, much more information and analysis will be available in the days and weeks to come ...
[Note: a temporary caretaker cabinet has been set up to organize elections, stabilize the country, and to implement reforms and head inquiry commissions over corruption and Ben Ali's regime's response to the protests. But the retention of Ben Ali officials for the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Interior Minister (responsible for internal security) posts in the new 'unity government' has left many Tunisians skeptical and angry. A fresh round of protests has been reported, along with the resignation of 3 independent members of the cabinet, barely a day after the new cabinet announcement.]
1. Could other Arab countries follow Tunisia's example? Roger Hardy, BBC.
2. No sign Egypt will take the Tunisian road. John Leyne, BBC; another view/angle.
3. Tunisia unrest a wake-up call for the region. Ian Black, The Guardian.
4. Tunisia's protests spark suicides in Algeria and fears throughout the Arab world. Ian Black, The
Guardian; The Arab world's horrific new trend: self-immolation. Blake Hounshell. Foreign Policy
Passport. (blog); new additional reported attempts here.
Guardian; The Arab world's horrific new trend: self-immolation. Blake Hounshell. Foreign Policy
Passport. (blog); new additional reported attempts here.
5. The 'bin Laden' of marginalisation: the real terror eating at the Arab world is the socio-economic
marginalisation. Larbi Sadiki, Al Jazeera English.
marginalisation. Larbi Sadiki, Al Jazeera English.
6. Tunisia protests serve warning to autocratic Middle Eastern regimes. Kristen Chick. The Christian
Science Monitor.
7. To the tyrants of the Arab world ... Lamis Andoni, Al Jazeera English.
Science Monitor.
7. To the tyrants of the Arab world ... Lamis Andoni, Al Jazeera English.
8. Arab regimes on edge. Marc Lynch. Foreign Policy. blog.
9. Two views/angles of U.S. comprehension of, and response to, Tunisia (1,2)
9. Two views/angles of U.S. comprehension of, and response to, Tunisia (1,2)
10. People power succeed without Western backing. Emad Mekay, Inter Press Service (Johannesburg);
another view/angle.
another view/angle.
11. Unrest spreads to Algeria. Emad Mekay, Inter Press Service (Johannesburg).
12. Arab bloggers cheer on Tunisia's Revolution. Robert Mackey. THE LEDE. The New York Times.
(blog)
(blog)
13. Kenya should draw lessons from the goings-on in Tunisia. Daily Nation. (Nairobi). [Not a part of
the MENA obviously, but an article like this reveals that people are feeling the reverberations far from
Tunisia and are reflecting on them.]
the MENA obviously, but an article like this reveals that people are feeling the reverberations far from
Tunisia and are reflecting on them.]
