The Arab Spring - Essay Example

Arab Spring Arab spring Introduction The Arab spring being witnessed in Middle East is changing the political strategy or plan of the region as it is said to persist for decades to come. Not taking into consideration domestic developments, the Arab spring is unearthing long standing anarchism and authoritarian regimes, protagonist and antagonists to the west similarly and establishing a vacuum that regional powers will want to fill. The regional powers in Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Libya and Syria are poised to manipulate the uprising for their own good.

This paper attempts to explain the Arab spring in relation to politics, religion, culture and business. Political and Arab spring Political Islamism is shaping the face of Arab spring in that countries such as Tunisia which held their elections, the moderate Islamist party emerged victorious while Morocco on the other hand chose its first Islamist prime minister. Political Islam is influenced the uprising in the Middle East it involved more liberal use or application of Islamic teachings and traditions to inspire the people and thus champion for change.

In addition, the policies of the Arab spring has big role to play in the regions present transformation. For instance, in Tunisia, people were more open minded guided with liberal attitude towards secular politics, while in Egypt, there is the Muslim brotherhood learning more towards the centre. Further, the uprising has been motivated by practical approach that attempts to move away from conflicting with the military while striving to raise both the economy and living standards. Muslim brotherhood has insisted that women should be given chance to participate in politics while they advocate for a civil state headed by either clerics or military.

Political Islamism aimed to bring genuine democracy to the people (Warren, 2012). Cultural and Arab spring For the first time in Arab history, the feeling of belonging to one’s own country has grown largely in that masses inspired by their unique cultural resurgence that incorporates dancing on the street and changing old folk songs into revolutionary anthems is common everywhere. Through their culture such as street dancing, people fill the streets asking for freedom. Additionally, the quest for freedom is also manifested in poetry.

Initially, women have been barred from publicly expressing themselves but now they are doing without fear that was poised by their strict cultural demands. Religious and Arab spring Religion influenced the Arab spring in that the suicide committed by Bouazizi and a series of copycats immolations ignited the revolution. In Islam, suicide is prohibited; therefore, people were angered by conditions that led this man commit suicide. Islam has strict laws in which justice is at the centre of the sharia law, therefore, people wanted to bring justice to the dead man by removing the oppressive regimes from power.

Businesses and Arab spring Inflation was on rising rapidly in that people from the region had far less money to deposit in their bank accounts, the fear of currency devaluation, and unemployment all sparked the uprising. For instance, it is estimated in Egypt, unemployment among the youth is at least 25%. The Arab spring on the hand has created misery in that tourism has dwindled since most hotels have been closed. More so, foreign investment has been badly affected to an extent that foreign investors have shut up their shops and left (Warren, 2012).

In countries such as Libya oil and construction industries have fallen sharply due to unsuitable working conditions. Conclusion Summarily, the rise of political Islamism ignited the revolution since people wanted to oust authoritarian regimes and replace them with true democracy. More so, religion influenced the people to revolt in that it advocated for justice and equality in society. Devaluation of currency and rise in inflation also triggered the violence. People presented their grievances via cultural manifestation such as street dancing and poetry.

Arab spring will bring new leadership in the region and will see the rise of new regional powers.ReferenceWarren, A. (2012). The battle for the Arab spring: Revolution, counter-revolution and the making of a new era. New York: Yale University Press.