People's Power - The Arab World in Revolt - Democracy | Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

May 10, 2011

Layla Al-Zubaidi, Doreen Khoury, Anbara Abu-Ayyash, Joachim Paul

Layla Al-Zubaidi, Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Middle East Office Beirut
Joachim Paul, Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Middle East Office Ramallah

The self-immolation of young and jobless Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi in the provincial town of Sidi Bouzid, being deprived of his vegetable stand and humiliated by the authorities, triggered popular movements and historic events in the Arab World completely unexpected in their magnitude…

… but were they really that unexpected? Have not generations of activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens for decades tirelessly pointed to the repressive practices of their governments? Was it not common knowledge that thousands were executed, imprisoned, exiled, and dissent silenced in many other ways; was not testimony after testimony collected, and report after report submitted? Did not countless experts, Arab and foreign, repeatedly stress the need for comprehensive political reforms, for economic opportunities for the growing youth population, for a redistribution of wealth, and the establishment of accountable and transparent governance?

Two questions therefore are to be asked:

First, what has happened? What burst the dam and finally pushed millions of citizens to the streets in the Arab cities and countryside; which element tore down the wall of fear that had prevented Arab societies for decades from holding their leaders accountable; how can it be explained that it is neither political parties nor religious movements that took to the streets, but people – people, peacefully shaking the foundations of deeply entrenched authoritarian rule and emerging as new and proud political actors?

And second, what has invested these regimes - if most of them had already lost legitimacy a long time ago - with such long-lasting resilience (some of them remaining resilient at this point of time)?

History is still very much in the making. What seems clear, however, is that the current popular revolutions have cracked two central myths. International actors, skeptical towards prospects for democracy in the Arab world on the one hand, and authoritarian leaders themselves on the other dearly held on to these narratives: First, that Arab societies constituted an “exception” and were not „mature“ for democracy; and second, that political Islam and/or chaos would constitute the only alternative to dictatorship.

The initial euphoria about people’s power to enforce change has been clouded by the staggering numbers of victims mainly in Libya, but also by the brutality employed against protesters in Bahrain, Yemen and Syria. It is clear however that there is no going back. Euphoria has transformed into broad political awareness, and while the remarkable process of people’s self-empowerment demands respect, it also demands the international community to thoroughly review existing policies towards the region. The opening of the political space provides a unique opportunity to finally listen to what the populations on the Southern shores of the Mediterranean, and especially the young generation, have to say.

Apart from the already enormous tasks of democratizing state institutions, organizing elections, and reforming the notorious security apparatuses, huge efforts will be necessary in order to match political participation with demands for equality and socio-economic development. While the magnitude of transformations and challenges are immense, the future remains volatile.

Since the events started to unfold in December 2010, much has been speculated about the Arab “Spring,” “Awakening” or “Renaissance.”

Will these popular revolts translate into sustainable change? Will counter-movements emerge, once citizens do not feel that their lives have improved? In what way will foreign interests determine the course of events?

The authors in this special edition of “Perspectives Middle East” address the above questions and many more. The edition seeks to offer a forum for a diversity of voices and viewpoints – ranging from in-depth analytical insights to opinion pieces and testimonies.

“Perspectives Middle East” is a publication series of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung’s offices in Beirut and Ramallah that seeks to provide a platform for presenting analysis and viewpoints primarily of experts from the region.

This special issue has been put together in a very short time, and during a period in which many of the authors have been personally engaged in the events that we are witnessing. We thank them for their effort to put their thoughts into writing, some of them under very difficult conditions - a further testimony to their dedication.

Perspectives #2 May 2011 -
People's Power - The Arab World in Revolt

Editor                             Layla Al-Zubaidi, Doreen Khoury, Anbara Abu-Ayyash, Joachim Paul
Place of publication       Beirut, Ramallah
Date of publication        May 2011
Pages                               264

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Contents

Editorial: People’s Power - The Arab World in Revol

A Revolution of Ideas

Arab Streets and Arab Publics: A New Political Culture?

Revolutions in Real Time: The Mediatization of Political Struggle

The Social Costs of Authoritarianism

“The People Demand...” the Downfall or Reform of the Regime?

Testimonies

Participation and Justice

International and Security Politics

Downlad (PDF)