Will the Protests known as the Arab Spring bring Democracy to the Middle East - Research Paper Example

Will the Protests Known as the “Arab Spring” Bring Democracy to the Middle East? The Arab Spring is a movement of protestors in the Arab world, which began on December 2010. The revolutionary protests have forced four leaders from different countries out of power. These countries are Yemen, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. These protests have shared methods of civil resistance in campaigns involving demonstrations, rallies, marches, strikes, and use of the social media. The Arab spring protestors comprise of youths (Mair, 45). Most demonstrations of the Arab Spring have met violent responses from the authorities in power and counter-demonstrators. Arab Spring protestors desired to bring down regimes of corruption and dictatorship so as to build regimes of democracy that are corruption free (Manhire, 23). This assignment will discuss whether the Arab Spring protestors will bring democracy to the Middle East through looking at the pros and cons of the protests. Pros of the Protests The protests have helped in clarification of what Middle East scholars have discovered about principal political schism in the Middle East. The protests have made the voice of the mass, which was irrelevant before, vital in the state politics. The leaders of the protests comprise of young, skilled individuals, who appreciate the use of technology and social media in conveyance of messages and arrangement of rallies. The protestors involved in the protests and demonstrations use relevantly little violence to make their demands heard by those in power (Pollack, 89). Bringing down of at least four dictatorship political governments has adhered to their policy of bringing down regimes and promoting democracy, which can be emulated by the counter-demonstrators. Cons of the Protests There is uncertainty about the extent to which these protests will continue, spread or be sustained in the Middle East countries. Youths lead the protests and although they are pushing for democracy, youth movements are void of organization leadership and policy platforms which will continue to press their agenda. The protests have had profound impacts on the political settlements in assorted nations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region but they have failed in bringing out any key change in the regional power structures (Prashad, 87). Formulation and lack of economic reforms are considerable challenges to the group; given their agenda of bringing down regimes. The protests pose a new security challenge to the region; the threat of sectarian conflicts remains at large in the region. The protests have assisted in clarifying what the Middle East scholars have understood for a remarkably long time. According to the scholars, the principal political schism in the Middle East is not between the Anti-Western and Pro-Western forces or between Arabs and Jews but it is the vast gulf which separates authoritarian regimes from the people that they rule. Hence, the protests have promoted this understanding to all nations. Initially, the voice of the people in the Middle East region did not matter in the western policy, but with the protests, the voice of the people can now be listened to by the policy makers. Although the voice seemed too fractured and politically immature, it has become relevant through the protests, which is an indication of democracy. The skillful, youth leaders who lead the protests appreciate the use of collective media and expertise in their communication. Use of the social media and technology helps in reaching a vast number of people within a remarkably short time. This helps the protestors in informing and educating the mass on the need to have these protests, in gaining democracy. Through these communication tools, the protestors can organize individuals to fight for democracy within a short time. The protests involve the use of relatively little violence. Through the protestors using relatively less violence, they show a high level of maturity for fighting corrupt and dictatorial regimes. This increases the number of individuals joining the protestors in search for democracy. The protestors have brought down four dictatorship regimes, which is an indication of their fight for bringing down regimes for democracy to reign. This has made many counter-demonstrators join the protestors’ spirit of bringing down regimes in quest for democratic regimes. There is uncertainty about the extent to which these protests will continue, spread or be sustained in the Middle East countries. The protests may continue and build up to regional conflicts, which may destabilize the economies of the Middle East region. Although the protestors are pushing for democracy, youth movements are void of organization leadership and policy platforms, which will continue to press their agenda. Lack of agendas will delay the need to have freedom. In order for the protestors to have democracy, they need to have well structured agendas, which they will implement. The protests have had profound impacts on the political settlements in a variety of nations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, but they have failed in bringing out any key change in the regional power structures. They need to put into practice a structured government in all the countries, which former regimes have come down. In order to bring full transformation of the regimes that they bring down, the protestors should have economic reforms to stabilize the economies. However, one of the problems facing the protestors is the lack of economic reforms. The protests pose a new security challenge in the Middle East region. There is a threat of sectarian conflicts emerging in the region, especially, for those countries ruled by an ethnic minority group, for example, Syria and Bahrain. I support the pros side of the argument. The protests have been capable of forcing four dictatorship regimes in an attempt to show their fight for democracy. They have also made the voice of the mass, which was irrelevant, gain relevance. This indicates a further step to gaining of democracy. The group uses relatively little force in an attempt to win democracy, which should be appreciated. Hence, the group will bring democracy in the Middle East region. Conclusion The Arab Spring protestors are a revolutionary group in the Middle East region and part of North African countries. The group focus is to bring down regimes of corruption and dictatorship from the region that they come from, and promote regimes governed by political freedom, social justice, and dignity. Youths lead the protests; they use technology and social media to communicate and rally meetings. The main tools used by the protestors include; demonstrations, protests, marches, rallies, and strikes. The principal factors leading to the protests are issues of corruption and dictatorship regimes in the MENA region. The protestors have led people in various MENA regions to force at least four dictatorship regimes out of power. These include; Yemen, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt (Desai, 34). The protestors have forced the leaders of these countries out of power, in search for democracy and dignity. The protestors use relatively little force to make their demands, rather than using extreme force. This has led to many individuals joining the protests, which are viewed as democratic. The people in the Middle East region did not have any freedom to contribute to the political policy; since the governments viewed the mass as being politically immature. However, with the protests, the mass can now present their political view to the governments, which a step forward for the attainment of democracy (Bradley, 57). The Arab Spring protestors have an excellent chance of promoting democracy in the Middle East region. Works Cited Bradley, John. After the Arab Spring: How the Islamists Hijacked the Middle East Revolts. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Print. Desai, Raj. After the Spring: Economic Transitions in the Arab World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. Manhire, Toby. Arab Spring: Rebellion, Revolution, and a New World Order. London: Continuum Publishers, 2012. Print. Mair, John. Mirage in the Desert? Reporting the Arab Spring. Suffolk: Arima Publishing, 2011. Print. Pollack, Kenneth. The Arab Awakening: America and the Transformation of the Middle East. Washington: Brookings Press, 2011. Print. Prashad, Vijay. Arab Spring, Libyan Winter. Oakland: AK Press, 2012. Print. Steinem, Gloria. Arab Spring Dreams: The Next Generation Speaks Out for Freedom and Justice from North Africa to Iran. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Print. Warren, Alex. The Battle of the Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution and the Making of a New Era. London: Yale University Press, 2012. Print. Read More