Arab Spring
Mideast protest wave
The Arab Spring was a wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa beginning in late 2010.
Starting in Tunisia, demonstrations spread to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain, toppling some governments while sparking civil wars in others.
The term borrows from earlier political movements named for seasons—Prague Spring, Spring of Nations—suggesting a time of hopeful awakening.
The Arab Spring raised hopes that were largely unfulfilled.
North African republic
- EgyptNortheastern African nation
- LibyaNorth African country
- YemenSouthwestern Arabian Peninsula republic
- SyriaLevant country, capital Damascus
Bahrain · Jordan · Morocco · Algeria · Oman · Tahrir Square · Benghazi · Manama
Organized resistance to power
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- ousterForced removal from position
- topplingCausing to collapse
rebellion · insurrection · mass protests · popular revolt · civil war · power vacuum · transitional government · collapse
Public display of opinion
- Friday prayersWeekly Islamic communal worship
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
- marchRhythmic group walk
- rallyGathering for a cause
chanting · placards · tear gas · crackdown · curfew · street protests · civil disobedience · nonviolent resistance
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- FacebookDominant social media platform
- TwitterMicroblogging social network
- YouTubeVideo-sharing website
citizen journalism · livestream · hashtag · internet blackout · censorship · satellite TV · mobile phones · digital activism
Uncoerced public choosing of representatives
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- transitionChange from one state
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
civil society · political freedom · parliamentary · suffrage · enfranchisement · accountability · transparency · civilian rule
Egyptian president, overthrown 2011
Levantine jihadist organization
- refugee crisisMass forced migration situation
- military coupArmed seizure of government
- failed stateUngovernable nation lacking authority
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
Muslim Brotherhood · counterrevolution · instability · displacement · humanitarian crisis · intervention · NATO · proxy war
Tunisia
North African republic
- EgyptNortheastern African nation
- LibyaNorth African country
- YemenSouthwestern Arabian Peninsula republic
Syria · Bahrain · Jordan · Morocco · Algeria · Oman · Tahrir Square · Benghazi · Manama · Tripoli
uprising
Organized resistance to power
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- ousterForced removal from position
toppling · rebellion · insurrection · mass protests · popular revolt · civil war · power vacuum · transitional government · collapse · destabilization
demonstration
Public display of opinion
- Friday prayersWeekly Islamic communal worship
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
- marchRhythmic group walk
rally · chanting · placards · tear gas · crackdown · curfew · street protests · civil disobedience · nonviolent resistance · human shields
Al Jazeera
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- FacebookDominant social media platform
- TwitterMicroblogging social network
YouTube · citizen journalism · livestream · hashtag · internet blackout · censorship · satellite TV · mobile phones · digital activism · blogger
free elections
Uncoerced public choosing of representatives
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- transitionChange from one state
pluralism · civil society · political freedom · parliamentary · suffrage · enfranchisement · accountability · transparency · civilian rule · political prisoners
Mubarak
Egyptian president, overthrown 2011
ISIS
Levantine jihadist organization
- refugee crisisMass forced migration situation
- military coupArmed seizure of government
- failed stateUngovernable nation lacking authority
sectarianism · Muslim Brotherhood · counterrevolution · instability · displacement · humanitarian crisis · intervention · NATO · proxy war
- Yemen History
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- Middle EastIraq, Baghdad, Cairo, Iran, Jordan
- 2010sInstagram, Snapchat, Uber, Airbnb, Bitcoin
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- 2000s History9/11, September 11, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Great Recession
Arab Springdashed hopes
spring, springy, springs, springtime, sprung, springing, Arabic, springboard, Arabs