Arab Spring

The Arab spring is a term used to identify the period of mass uprisings that took place in the spring of 2011 following the death of a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire after his vegetable stand was arbitrarily seized by police. Protests first erupted in Tunisia, leading the authoritarian president to abdicate. Similar protests and regime changes followed in multiple other Muslim countries, leading certain to progressive regime and societal changes and others, to civil war.

The Arab spring challenged old ideas and views on democracy, and it signaled a possibility for change. Arab women were notably at the frontlines of the Arab spring, some were even the face of the movement in their respective countries. In the aftermath of the revolution, women in most countries saw a rise in political representation and societal progress regarding feminism. The sociological theory of feminism explains that society is comprised of competing groups, notably men and women with women fighting for equal rights. Feminism played a big part in the Arab spring, leaving lasting positive impacts on gender relations in affected countries.

The theory of symbolic interactionism focuses on the meaning behind social interactions, this theory gives a particular importance to symbols. In this case, symbols in the Arab spring protest were largely created on social media platforms. Important symbols such as the young Tunisian man who died by immolation inspired the population and served as a catalyst in the revolution. The Arab spring can also be analysed through a theory of conflict lens, which places the focus on the battle of power in society and the struggle to get access to scarce resources. By fighting for societal and political change, the Arab people sought and attained more power and freedom, ultimately removing power from the ruling class. The uprisings had adverse effects in certain countries such as Syria and Yemen, who were plunged in civil war following the protests.

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