Arab Springs
Tunisian Revolution-2011
Background:
The Tunisian Revolution, the first of the Arab Spring Revolutions, began in 2011 following the gruesome symbolic suicide of fruit vendor Mohammed Bouazizi, known by many as the "father of the Tunisian Revolution." On December 17, 2010, in the town of Sidi Bouzid, Bouazizi publicly set himself on fire after police confiscated his merchandise because he lacked a permit. Bouazizi's suicide sparked national interest and widespread protests, which quickly turned into a nationwide revolution. The Tunisian Revolution, also known as the Jasmine Revolution, was the result of inflation, staggering unemployment, and a corrupt government led by dictator Ben Ali. The single act of one man sparked a national revolution that resulted in a complete change within its government. "It must be a fragile system if it can be brought down by just a few berries." -Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire
Causes:
Social Causes:
Social Media:
Websites, particularly Facebook and Twitter, were instrumental in conveying information to protestors and followers since these sites were not censored. One website, Nawaat.org, was recognized and awarded for their role in preserving media freedom by the organization "Reporters Without Boarders." The site played a monumental role in organizing protests and generating awareness and exposure for events that the Tunisian media ignored due to censorship. Communication and the sharing or photos and videos via social media websites united the country and enabled the people to start a revolution. Social media also revealed to the rest of the world the lack of free speech and living conditions Ben Ali and his corrupt regime had forced upon the Tunisian people.
Economic Causes:
Unemployment:
In the years leading up to the revolution, Tunisia suffered from economic stagnation and a rapidly climbing unemployment rate. By 2011, 15% of Tunisia was unemployed, and over 20% of people who had a college education were unemployed. Youth unemployment was 30% in 2011. The number of people who were jobless in Tunisia was a primary cause of the revolution, as it was practically impossible to live for much of the population.
Inflation:
As unemployment rose, the price of many basic necessities rose as well. According to Malika Zeghal, a Tunisian scholar, the price of many food items had been consistently increasing and the price of milk had nearly doubled within months.
Political Causes:
Corruption Under Dictator:
President Zine Abidine Ben Ali’s dictatorship had ruled Tunisia for over 23 years. By then, Ben Ali had perfected his regime, a system of repression, oppression, and censorship. Ben Ali controlled everything the media said about him or his dictatorship. He even had rapper "El General" arrested for using lyrics such as "Mr. President, your people are dying."Ben Ali thought he could avoid opposition by censoring and oppressing his people. "The Tunisian people felt betrayed by Ben Ali turning the country into a police state," says Harvard professor William Granara. In addition, the family of the former president was quite corrupt. Ben Ali's wife, Leila Trabelsi, was seen as a "Marie Antoinette" figure because of her lifestyle and lavish spending while much of Tunisia was living in poverty and unemployed.
Primary Accounts:
Q: What are the roots of Tunisia revolution?
A: "Corruption, lack of freedom, cruelty and oppression, expansion of poverty, exploitation of national resources and wealth, unemployment, mono-party political situation and political pressures, and prohibition of religious rituals, etc. thus the increase in the mentioned points enflamed the revolution. Bin Ali had no attention on the people's expectations and he was only considering his interests, and fortunately as the Iranian king got forced to escape, the same destiny happened to Bin Ali."
--Mr. Qazwani, delegation of Tunisia's Muslim student association
The Tunisian Revolution, the first of the Arab Spring Revolutions, began in 2011 following the gruesome symbolic suicide of fruit vendor Mohammed Bouazizi, known by many as the "father of the Tunisian Revolution." On December 17, 2010, in the town of Sidi Bouzid, Bouazizi publicly set himself on fire after police confiscated his merchandise because he lacked a permit. Bouazizi's suicide sparked national interest and widespread protests, which quickly turned into a nationwide revolution. The Tunisian Revolution, also known as the Jasmine Revolution, was the result of inflation, staggering unemployment, and a corrupt government led by dictator Ben Ali. The single act of one man sparked a national revolution that resulted in a complete change within its government. "It must be a fragile system if it can be brought down by just a few berries." -Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire
Causes:
Social Causes:
Social Media:
Websites, particularly Facebook and Twitter, were instrumental in conveying information to protestors and followers since these sites were not censored. One website, Nawaat.org, was recognized and awarded for their role in preserving media freedom by the organization "Reporters Without Boarders." The site played a monumental role in organizing protests and generating awareness and exposure for events that the Tunisian media ignored due to censorship. Communication and the sharing or photos and videos via social media websites united the country and enabled the people to start a revolution. Social media also revealed to the rest of the world the lack of free speech and living conditions Ben Ali and his corrupt regime had forced upon the Tunisian people.
Economic Causes:
Unemployment:
In the years leading up to the revolution, Tunisia suffered from economic stagnation and a rapidly climbing unemployment rate. By 2011, 15% of Tunisia was unemployed, and over 20% of people who had a college education were unemployed. Youth unemployment was 30% in 2011. The number of people who were jobless in Tunisia was a primary cause of the revolution, as it was practically impossible to live for much of the population.
Inflation:
As unemployment rose, the price of many basic necessities rose as well. According to Malika Zeghal, a Tunisian scholar, the price of many food items had been consistently increasing and the price of milk had nearly doubled within months.
Political Causes:
Corruption Under Dictator:
President Zine Abidine Ben Ali’s dictatorship had ruled Tunisia for over 23 years. By then, Ben Ali had perfected his regime, a system of repression, oppression, and censorship. Ben Ali controlled everything the media said about him or his dictatorship. He even had rapper "El General" arrested for using lyrics such as "Mr. President, your people are dying."Ben Ali thought he could avoid opposition by censoring and oppressing his people. "The Tunisian people felt betrayed by Ben Ali turning the country into a police state," says Harvard professor William Granara. In addition, the family of the former president was quite corrupt. Ben Ali's wife, Leila Trabelsi, was seen as a "Marie Antoinette" figure because of her lifestyle and lavish spending while much of Tunisia was living in poverty and unemployed.
Primary Accounts:
Q: What are the roots of Tunisia revolution?
A: "Corruption, lack of freedom, cruelty and oppression, expansion of poverty, exploitation of national resources and wealth, unemployment, mono-party political situation and political pressures, and prohibition of religious rituals, etc. thus the increase in the mentioned points enflamed the revolution. Bin Ali had no attention on the people's expectations and he was only considering his interests, and fortunately as the Iranian king got forced to escape, the same destiny happened to Bin Ali."
--Mr. Qazwani, delegation of Tunisia's Muslim student association
"No, the Tunisian Revolution is not a
matter of "jasmine," as the major media would have us
believe. It is the work of the working class … farm workers, youth,
precarious workers, civil servants, the unemployed — of an entire
exploited and oppressed people.."
--Lucien Gauthier, writer/photogrpher
matter of "jasmine," as the major media would have us
believe. It is the work of the working class … farm workers, youth,
precarious workers, civil servants, the unemployed — of an entire
exploited and oppressed people.."
--Lucien Gauthier, writer/photogrpher