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Arab Spring

Arab Spring. Grass Roots Democratic Movements. Background. The modern Arab world is not that old Created from dissolution of Ottoman Empire British, French controlled the region and played a heavy hand in this dissolution French Mandated Syria and British Mandated Palestine

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Arab Spring

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  1. Arab Spring Grass Roots Democratic Movements

  2. Background • The modern Arab world is not that old • Created from dissolution of Ottoman Empire • British, French controlled the region and played a heavy hand in this dissolution • French Mandated Syria and British Mandated Palestine • Large influence in the 1960s was the Ba`athist Party • Set up as an ideological movement of the 1940s • Is based on nationalist, autocratic principles • Strong leadership • Promotion of Arab culture • Sunni vs Shia • The middle East is divided religiously • Sunni • 80-90% of Muslims • Believe that spiritual conviction determines leadership – aka Pope • Believe in the Quran /religious texts as a guide to living – not literal • Shi`a • 5 – 20% of Muslims • Believe that only the direct descendants of Muhammad should be leaders • Iran, Bahrain, Iraq • Believe in the word of the Quran /religious texts as literal meaning • Islamic Fundamentalism • Is a 'BACK TO BASICS` movement to counter the influence of non Arabic / Islamic forces - westernisation

  3. Syria • Broke from the Ottomans in 1920 – under the rule of King Faisal (also king of Iraq) • Was driven from power by the French • 1925 – 1936 rebellion against France • Full independence wasn`t given until 1944 • Last French troops leave 1946 • 1963 the Ba`ath Party seizes power • Hafez al-Assad (1970 - 2000) • Bashar al-Assad (son) (2000 - Present)

  4. Algeria • Taken from the Ottoman`s in 1830 • After World War Two Algerian Independence movements start to grow – the leader • Front du Liberation Nationale – FLN • 1954 – 1963 – Algerian rebellion • France agrees to pull out – 10% of Algeria flee to France as refugees • FLN takes power • Coup in 19 65 – defence minister • Government shifted to a more central – socialist government • 1991 – Islamic Salvation Front won election – military declared state of emergency • 1991 – 2002 – religious based civil war • 2002 – Present political protests

  5. Libya • Seized from Ottoman`s in 1911 by the Italians • 1952 – Libya declares independence and sets up a monarchy • 1969 – monarchy is overthrown by a 27 year old military officer • 1969 – 2011 - Muammar Gaddafi • Assassinated Libyan dissidents • Publically executed political prisoners • Used oil revenues to fund terrorism – Palestinians, Irish, Chad, anti nuclear activists, etc • He modernised the country (Libya had one of the highest standards of living in the Arab world); but at a price for freedom

  6. Egypt • 1882 – British Seize the area and set up as imperialists • 1952 – Egyptians declare independence and expel the British – Suez Canal still controlled by British and French business interests • 1954 – Military general – Gamal Nasser seizes power • 1957 – attempts to seize control of the Suez Canal – British and French threaten to invade • Canadians step in as `peacekeepers` • PM Pearson wins Nobel • 1970 – Nasser dies and is succeeded by another general – Anwar Sadat • 1982 – Sadat is assassinated by soldiers for softening Egypts stance towards Israel • 1982 – 2011 – General Hosni Mubarek succeeds Sadat • Mubarek remains neutral towards Israel and tries to develop relations with the West. • Supresses political and religious dissidents

  7. Iraq • Taken from the Ottoman`s by the British in 1916 • Set up as imperialist state • Invaded in 1941 to prevent region from crossing over to the Axis • Declares independence in 1947 under a constitutional monarchy – overthrown in 1958 • Ba`athist Party seizes power – by 1979 it is led by Saddam Hussein • Kills all rivals (real and imagined) • Establishes a `cult of Personality` • Develops strong relations with the US after the Iranian Revolution • Iraq – Iran War (1980 - 1988) – stalemate = 1.5 mil dead • 1990 – invades Kuwait to seize oil reserves – defeated by US led coalition • UN imposes economic sanctions • 2003 – US leads coalition to topple Hussein • 2006 – Hussein put on trial and executed • 2003 – 2010 US Occupies Iraq

  8. Iran • The region was independent - Ruled by a monarchy • 1925 – king was overthrown and the new ruler (the Shah) developed ties to the west to fund modernisation programs. • 1941 – ties to Nazi Germany prompted the British and Soviets to invade – set up a new Shah • 1951 – The Iranian government nationalised the oil industry – US sponsored a coup to oust them • The Shah took the hint and developed more autocratic policies • 1979 – religious dissident Ayatollah Komenini led a revolution against the Shah and drove him out of power • Set up a theocracy – religious leadership • Set up restrictive laws for women • Current leadership • Religious - Ali Khamenei • Political - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

  9. Arab Spring • Started in Dec. 2010, when Mohamed Bouazizi (a Tunisian street vendor) set himself on fire in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he reported was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. • This sparked a wave of protest that grew as a challenge of the government • By Jan. 2011, the government was forced from office. • Protests spread throughout the Arab world

  10. Summary of Protest by Country • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring

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