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Arab Uprisings (non-AI) Flashcards

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1
Q

What was unprecedented about the nature of the Arab Uprisings.

A

They were not revolutions that desired to end foreign occupations, they were faced inwards at the problems in Arab societies

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2
Q

Why do political scientists believe Authoritarianism is so persistent in the Middle East?

A

Large bureaucracies, deferential culture, legacy of western domination

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3
Q

Why were there tensions in 2011?

A

Slow economic growth, increasing inequality, high unemployment, inadequate education, inefficiency and corruption.

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4
Q

Why did Tunisia not seem ripe for revolution?

A

Had relative stability and longevity of regime. Economically wasn’t doing that badly.

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5
Q

What did the Tunisian revolution demand?

A

The departure of Ben Ali, free elections, association, media, release of political prisoners

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6
Q

Why had Arab states not produced visionary leaders in years before 2011?

A

Regimes were too invested in personality cults. They were state engineered and not genuinely popular.

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7
Q

What mistake did Arab governments make which meant they were susceptible to revolution?

A

They were fixated on the identity of their internal enemy, who they felt if they repressed would go away. People actually demanding common rights which they were not giving.

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8
Q

Why was Mubarak particularly vulnerable?

A

He had a clear connection to everything political in Egypt. He symbolised repression and people felt personal rage to him.

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9
Q

What four point agenda coalesced due to online Egyptian movement?

A

End Mubarak’s rule, reject succession of his son, expand political freedoms and democratic institutions, immediate end of state violence and persecution.

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10
Q

What specific act was seen as the catalyst to the Arab Spring?

A

The self immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi.

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11
Q

What were the most important priorities in the region in 2005?

A

Expanding employment opportunities, improving healthcare, ending corruption.

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12
Q

Why did the Gulf states not see the same level of uprising?

A

Incumbent rulers used high oil revenues to quell protests.

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13
Q

Causes of Tunisian Revolution

A

Had an extremely repressive regime. Older Tunisians had experienced social mobility and had high expectations. Historically low levels of corruption which made Ben Ali look bad.

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14
Q

How had Islamist tactics and ideology changed from the 90s onwards?

A

They had become less threatening, more moderate in their ideology and tactics. Would have more support among the Middle class.

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15
Q

Why were the 2011 movements hard to shut down?

A

They were spontaneous, open to all and lacked prior organisation and structure. They had no obvious leader or power base for the regimes to target.

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16
Q

Tunisian university graduate unemployment rate (2008).

A

45%

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17
Q

What promises did Bin Ali make in January 2011?

A

Creation of 300,000 jobs, more food, oil, freedom. Came too late, general strike called next day and he fled.

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18
Q

What system of rule did Gaddafi believe in?

A

he did not believe in representative politics and felt that political parties were modern dictatorships.

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19
Q

What economic decline was taking place in Libya pre-2011?

A

Unequal wealth distribution, military favouritism, shortage of goods and services.

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20
Q

What was the spark of the Libyan rev and how did it progress?

A

Young people called for day of action on 17th Feb. Started peacefully but excessive power led to military conflict.

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21
Q

What factors did increasing levels of incompetence play in the Egyptian uprising?

A

Causing increasing levels of suffering. Deadly train crash in 2009. 100 died in landslide in 2008, 1000 died when boat sank in 2006. Disasters blamed on corruption.

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22
Q

When did the Kifaya movement begin and what were its aims?

A
  1. Aimed to bring about democratic transformation in Egypt. Committed to peaceful means. Aimed to stop presidency passing to Gamal.
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23
Q

How many Egyptians took part in protests between 2005-2008 against social conditions and policies?

A

1.5 million

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24
Q

What % of seats did the ruling NDP win in 2010?

A

97

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25
What happened to Khaled Said?
He recorded police informers in Alexandria who were going to plant drugs and then keep them for themselves. This led to his arrest, he was tortured to death. What he recorded was uploaded.
26
How many people initially gathered in Tahrir Square?
Almost 1 million.
27
What role did the army initial play in Egypt?
Were essentially a neutral party, granted immunity to demonstrators.
28
Why did Mubarak tolerate a margin of freedom ?
He wanted to stay on the good side of the US and Israel.
29
Egyptian unemployment rate of under 30s?
60%
30
% living in poverty in Egypt
50
31
Egyptian ranking in UN corruption index
115 out of 139
32
Why was there so much trans-ideological unity in Egypt?
All people had reason to oppose the regime. Middle-class desired democracy and rejected Gamal Mubarak. Poorest desired for subsistence, rebelling against poverty.
33
What watersheds led to social change in Egypt during 70s and 80s?
Sadat's open door policy and exodus of Egyptian labour to other countries. Process of agricultural liberalisation which lifted subsidies, abolished crop delivery and agricultural cooperatives.
34
Factors that led to the Yemeni uprising.
Unemployment, population growth, weak economy, lack of rights.
35
When was Yemen united and what did this do?
1990. Brought two ideologically opposed states together. The two never truly unified, separate armed forces and antagonism from the north towards southern socialism.
36
When did protests being in Yemen and what did they demand?
Spring 2008. Equal citizenship, jobs, decision making power and control over economic resources.
37
What made the Yemeni revolution easy to organise.
Members of civil society, activists, knew each other from pre-2011. Had a network that transcended tribal, class, ideological divides.
38
How did Syria justify the constant state of emergency?
The threat of Israel.
39
Why were there limited protests in Syria in 2001?
Media censorship had increased. Travel bans given to human rights activists, increase in intimidation.
40
Why did Bashaar initially maintain popularity?
Was a belief that it was the old guard rather than him who stood in the way of change.
41
Youth unemployment in Syria.
48%, women 4X more likely to be unemployed than men.
42
What was the main consequence of the economic reforms of the 00s in Syria?
Entrenchment of monopolies. Dismantling of economic safety net for the poor, increased inequality, increased poverty.
43
What had drought done to Syria since 2006?
Pushed 2-3 million into extreme poverty, destroyed livelihood of 800,000 farmers. Caused massive internal displacement.
44
Who did Bashaar alienate and how?
Peasants who had been beneficiaries of land distribution due to drought, mismanagement and neglect. Urban working and middle class impoverished by neo-liberlaism.
45
How did the British divide people during their rule of Bahrain?
Citizens either categorised as 'foreign' or 'local'. Foreigners under British jurisdiction and locals under the jurisdiction of the ruler. Created a basis to catalyse political mobilisation based on ethnosectarian identities.
46
What was the CC and what did they do in Bahrain?
The Constitutive Committee for the General Federation of Workers in Bahrain. Organised mass movements, aimed to establish labour union. Authorities repeatedly refused to grant recognition.
47
Who were seen as the main source of opposition in the 80s and 90s (kuwait)
Shia Islamist movements.
48
What public movement took place in the 90s? (Kuwait)
Aim to unite political groupings. Call for restoration of 1973 constitution and parliamentary democracy. Shia Islam dominant form of mobilisation. Movement was met with violence.
49
What was the national action charter of 2001? (kuwait)
Promise to establish a constitutional democracy. 2002 constitution was written behind closed doors with no popular input and did not live up to expectations.
50
What inspired the Bahrain revolution?
The events in Egypt and Tunisia. Anonymous social media activists called for 'day of rage'.
51
Why did Mubarak's domestic legitimacy erode?
He was perceived to be the local enforcer of US regional policy towards Israel.
52
Four waves of protest in Egypt
* First wave (2000-2004) driven by protests against US and Israeli policies in the region, economic and political grievances also contributed. * Second wave (2004-2006) first direct and populat challenge to the regime focused on 2005 elections and proposed constitutional amendments. Economic hardship and police brutality themes * Third wave (2006-2009) driven predominantly by industrial disputes and economic hardship, political motivations most relevant to youth networks and the Muslim Brotherhood. Coincided with regional events in Israel-Palestine and Lebanon * Fourth wave (2010-2011) centred on challenging regime in upcoming elections. Police brutality, economic hardship added fuel
53
Key contributions of the first wave of Egyptian protest.
Linking activists across ideological divides. Reclamation of the street as space of protest.
54
What movements sustained the second wave of Egyptian protest?
Kefaya, Palestinian Solidarity Society, Muslim Brotherhood
55
What were the successes of Kefaya?
Triggered a debate among politically active people about constitutional reforms and created a protest culture. Assisted by Muslim Brotherhood and succeeded in persuading Egyptians to boycott referendum on constitutional amendment to enable Gamal. Carved domestic opposition space and model for sustained protests.
56
What were the roots of the 2008 strike in Mahalla?
Ongoing industrial disputes between independent workers movements and employers.
57
Number of strikes and protestors between 2004-2008 in Egypt.
Over 1,900 strikes, involved 1.7 million workers.
58
Significance of the tax collectors strike 2007.
Brought in white-collar workers into a largely blue-collar protest wave.
59
What role did blogging play in the thir wave in Egypt?
Reached new heights. Key source of alternative, anti-regime information. Played key role in highlighting police abuse. Expansion of Islamist blogs.
60
What did third wave protests prove?
The police were not all powerful.
61
Significance of Mohammed ElBaradei.
Egyptian who announced he would stand for presidency in 2011. Aimed to bring together pro-democracy organisations and people with no history of activism.
62
What was the chief contribution of Elbaradei?
Reignited hope that things could change. Seen as a credible alternative for Mubarak.
63
Role of church bombing in Alexandria in Egyptian protests.
Killed 23 and wounded nearly 100. Christians accused government of failing to protect them. Anger turned on government.
64
Significance of 2010 protest wave.
Mobilised additional sectors of society. Mobilised and made section of middle class politically aware.
65
Significance of 28th Jan in Egypt
Was a point of no return. Regime acknowledged defeat and police withdrew for the army. revolutionary activity engulfed huge spaces.
66
What revolutionary demands threatened the army in Egypt?
Free presidential elections and a brand new constitution.
67
What was the focus of the Muslim brotherhood in 2011?
Winning elections, this took priority over actually taking part in the uprisings.
68
The mentality of the young men who took part in the Egyptian revolutions.
Had an identity of victimhood. They had no prior political experience but were subjectified polticially. Were routinely stopped and searched by police, treated ill and tortured.
69
Revolts prior to 2011 in which ideas of democracy and secularity were taken up?
First Palestinian Intifada, the Bahrain uprising of the 90s, Damascus spring, BDS movement, Lebanese initfada in 2005, protests in Egypt in 2000s.
70
Effect of collapse of Soviet Union
Loss of funding in ME states, Syria most affected.
71
1992 Tenancy Law
Reversed land reform of the 50s and 60s. Leads to mass evictions in Egypt.
72
2005 Damascus Declaration
Calls for democracy and free elections in Syria.
73
CPI rises in Syria, Egypt and Tunisia (IGNORE)
42%, 47%, 53%
74
Revolutionary Slogans
'The People Want the Downfall of the Regime' 'Bread, freedom, social justice'
75
April 6 Youth Movement
Activist group established in 2008 to support strikers in Mahalla. Used social media tools to report on the strike. Nonviolent organisation.
76
Immediate Cause of Bouazizi's self-immolation
Local officials demanded bribes and confiscated his merchandise. Authorities refused to hear his complaint. His plight symbolised economic injustice and hardship facing many Tunisians.
77
Tunisian Town where demonstrations began
Sidi Bouzid.
78
Wealth distribution in Tunisia
Wealthy minority (10%) had a third of the GNP whereas the poorest 30% had less than 10% of GNP.
79
Unemployment in Tunisia
15-20%, among educated youth 30%
80
Regional disparity in Tunisia
Where huge regional inequalities. Most economic activity took place in Tunis and around the Sahel. Interior regions remained rural zones of poverty hence why the revs broke out in the disfavoured and poor central region.
81
Tunisian slogans
'Freedom work and dignity'

Middle Eastern Modernities (9 decks)

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