Causes

1. Event Causes A revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in the Arab world since 18 December of 2010. High unemployment, food price inflation, corruption, lack of freedom of speech, poor living conditions.

2. Locality

3. Chronology • 17th December 2010: TUNISIA: Mohammed Bouazizi, a Tunisian vegetable peddler sets himself ablaze in the town of Sidi Bouzid after his cart is confiscated by a policewoman who slapped him and spat in his face. The incident causes long-simmering frustrations over injustice, poverty and the greed of the political elite to spill over into protests, which are brutally subdued. Bouazizi dies, but in his act of self-immolation, the Arab Spring is born. • 14th January, 2011: TUNISIA. After nearly a month of protests, and with public anger mounting over the increasingly violent response of the security forces, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali flees the country he had ruled for 24 years after senior generals tell him his position is untenable. His hated wife, Leila Trabelsi, escapes too – allegedly taking much of the central bank's gold reserves with her. • 11th February, 2011: EGYPT: Hosni Mubarak becomes the second leader forced from office after 30 years in power. Protests in the wake of Tunisia's revolt have spread through much of the Arab world, but none gain traction as quickly as in Egypt. Hundreds of protesters die at the hands of the security forces until the army steps in and urges Mubarak to go, prompting wild celebrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square. • 15th February, 2011: LIBYA: Protests that erupt in the east after the arrest of human rights lawyers quickly turn violent after the Gaddafi regime responds with massive force. Within three days, opposition supporters are in control of the second city of Benghazi and the government sees massive defections. • 14th March, 2011: BAHRAIN: Saudi Arabia and Gulf states send troops into Bahrain to prop up the Sunni Al Khalifa monarchy after an uprising by the kingdom's subjugated Shia majority. Dozens of protesters are killed but the West, which has vital, Iran-related security interests on the island, is subdued in its criticism and the revolt is quelled. • 20th October, 2011: MISRATA: Moammar Gadhafi is killed after being seized by a mob near his home town of Sirte.

4. Corrupt leaders and governments of several countries have been removed sometimes by force. Some social changes have been made ranging from monetary compensation to ending longstanding emergency law. Many countries saw the release of political prisoners while some saw the prosecution of criminals and the liquidation of their assets. Women gained the right to vote in some countries while other countries were given the right to hold elections. On the other hand Islamic fundamentalists now have an open door to many places where they were not tolerated in the past. People who have lived under the rule of dictators for decades now find themselves in unfamiliar territory and are looking for leadership. The current elections being held in Egypt is a who’s who of Islamic groups like Gamaa al-Islamiya, who claim to be “former “ militants, and the most prominent party the Muslim Brotherhood, were banned in Egypt for being extremists. Riots continue to this day and the entire region is in turmoil. Outcomes