The Arab Spring was a series of protests and uprisings in the early 2010s that spread across the Arab world. It led to regime changes, civil wars, and ongoing conflicts in countries like Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon.
In his 1993 sociological study of Arab societies, culture, and state, Halim Barakat confidently predicted that the first Arab popular revolution would take place in Egypt or Tunisia.
The April 6 Youth Movement, led by Ahmed Mahed in 2008, aimed to coordinate a nationwide labor strike, laying the groundwork for future activism during the Arab Spring.
A jobless graduate named Bouazizi died after setting himself on fire in Tunisia when police prevented him from operating his cart. This event sparked protests among young Tunisians after WikiLeaks revealed US criticism of the government.
The protests in Tunisia began on December 18, 2010, in Sidi Bouzid, following Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in protest of police corruption and ill treatment.
After 10 days of demonstrations in Tunisia, President Ben Ali appears on television promising action on job creation and declaring a firm stance on protesters.
The Arab Spring uprisings highlighted the urgent need to address the aspirations of the youth for economic and social empowerment, amidst challenges such as the Yemen war, Daesh terrorism, and Iranian aggression.
Mohamed Bouazizi died on January 4, 2011, sparking protests against the cost of living and the country’s authoritarian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
The term 'Arab Spring' was first used in a 6 January 2011 article by political scientist Marc Lynch for Foreign Policy magazine, although it was contested by protestors who referred to their actions as 'uprising', 'awakening', and 'renaissance'.
Eleven people died in clashes with security forces in Tunisia as protesters set fire to cars in various cities. The security forces responded violently to the protests.
Facing mounting protests, President Ben Ali of Tunisia flees to Saudi Arabia, bowing to the pressure from the demonstrations.
Tunisia's Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announces the formation of an interim unity government that includes members from the previous administration. However, protesters reject this move and continue to demonstrate.
Official protests in Saudi Arabia began on March 11, 2011, following minor protests that started on January 21, 2011.
Inspired by the ouster of Ben Ali in Tunisia, young Egyptians organized protests through social media, leading to massive demonstrations across Egypt on January 25. The government attempted to control the protests with concessions and violence, but the military's refusal to use force against protesters ultimately led to President Hosni Mubarak stepping down on February 11.
Several hundred Bahrainis gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy in Manama to show support for anti-government protesters in Egypt.
On February 11, 2011, President Hosni Mubarak was effectively overthrown by the Egyptian Revolution after facing widespread protests and pressure to step down.
Protests in Bahrain started on 14 February 2011, initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and respect for human rights. The protests escalated following a pre-dawn raid by police on 17 February, leading to calls for the end of the monarchy.
On February 15, protesters took over the Pearl Square roundabout in the capital of Bahrain, demanding a constitutional monarchy among other reforms.
On 17 February, police raided the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, Bahrain, resulting in the death of four protesters who were demonstrating.
Protests erupted in Kuwait on 19 February, reflecting the wave of unrest and calls for political change in the region during the Arab Spring.
On February 25, 2011, protests spread across the Middle East as the uprising in Libya reached the capital, Tripoli, sparking demonstrations in other countries.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman announced economic concessions on 26 February in response to the growing demands and protests in the country.
Tens of thousands of protesters participate in an anti-government rally organized by seven opposition groups.
Former Prime Minister of Egypt, Ahmed Shafik, resigned on 3 March following widespread protests, signaling a shift in the country's political landscape.
In March 6, 2011, protests began in Syria after teenagers tagged their school wall with a message against President Bashar al-Assad, eventually leading to a civil war and the rise of ISIL.
On 13 March, Sultan Qaboos pledged to grant lawmaking powers to Oman's elected legislature, a significant development in response to the demands of protesters.
Saudi Arabia sends troops and armored vehicles to Bahrain to assist in suppressing the unrest.
Protests in Syria began on 26 January 2011 after a police officer assaulted a man in public. The demonstrations escalated in March with thousands gathering in various cities, demanding political reforms and the release of arrested children.
On 16 March 2011, armed soldiers and riot police cleared the protesters' camp in the Pearl Roundabout in Bahrain, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The Pearl Monument, a symbol of the protest movement in Bahrain, is demolished.
On March 24, 2011, approximately 500 protesters establish a camp in the main square of Amman, the capital of Jordan.
The opposition party Al Wefaq agrees to participate in talks mediated by Kuwait to address the ongoing crisis.
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid ibn Ahmad Al Khalifah refutes claims of Kuwaiti involvement in the mediation efforts.
As of April 5, 2011, the number of Facebook users in the Arab world exceeded 27.7 million, showcasing the significant role of social media in the Arab Spring protests.
Anti-government protests escalate across Syria, resulting in at least 22 deaths in Deraa.
Tanks are deployed in Syria for the first time amidst the ongoing unrest.
Hundreds of governing Baath party members resign in protest as the government's crackdown on protesters intensifies, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
On 3 June, President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh was injured in a failed assassination attempt, leading to his Vice President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi, becoming the Acting President temporarily.
Security forces in Syria kill at least 100 protesters in a violent crackdown over two days.
On 13 June, the former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was sentenced to prison by a Tunisian court.
On 26 June, thousands of Kuwaitis rallied in Al-Erada Square to protest against a court ruling that dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown on August 23, 2011, after the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia introduces cautious reforms, granting women the right to vote and run for election starting from 2015.
October 7, 2011, witnesses renewed protests in Jordan as former Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat leads around 2,000 individuals in a march outside the Grand Husseini Mosque in central Amman, with additional demonstrations in various cities.
In late August, anti-Gaddafi fighters captured Tripoli, leading to the scattering of Gaddafi's government. The capture of Sirte in October, where Gaddafi declared the new capital, marked the end of his 42-year rule, culminating in his death.
The National Transitional Council (NTC) officially declared an end to the 2011 Libyan Civil War.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Muammar Gaddafi, was captured in Nigeria after hiding.
Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square demanded a faster transition to a civilian government, leading to clashes with soldiers and casualties.
Ali Abdullah Saleh, the President of Yemen, resigned from office amidst widespread protests and unrest, a crucial moment in the Arab Spring.
On 20 April, many people protested in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding a quicker transfer of power to a new President.
On 2 May, Awn Al-Khasawneh resigned in Jordan, leading to the appointment of Fayez Tarawneh as the new Prime Minister by the King.
On 23 & 24 May, the Egyptian people voted in the first round of a presidential election, with Ahmed Shafik and Mohammed Morsi emerging as the winners.
On 25 May, the Syrian government carried out a massacre in Houla, resulting in the tragic deaths of 108 people.
Former President Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison by an Egyptian court.
On 16 & 17 June, the Egyptian people voted in the 2nd round of a presidential run-off election, in which Mohammed Morsi received the most votes.
On 24 June 2012, Egypt's election commission announced that Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi had won Egypt's presidential runoff. Morsi won by a narrow margin over Ahmed Shafiq.
Thousands take to the streets on October 5, 2012, in Jordan after King Abdullah II dissolves Parliament and announces early elections.
Nationwide protests erupted in Jordan in response to an increase in fuel prices and other basic goods announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.
BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowden highlights 10 significant moments from the Arab uprisings.
Protests erupted all over Egypt on the second anniversary of the 2011 revolution, with thousands gathering in Tahrir Square. Violence ensued, resulting in the deaths of 6 civilians and 1 police officer, with 456 others injured.
On July 2, 2013, the trial of the UAE-94 case concluded, leading to the conviction of 69 men based on forced confessions. The defendants, including journalists and activists, received harsh prison sentences of up to 15 years.
RevolutionTrends.org archived data related to the wave of protests, providing statistical analysis.
In 2015, Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict to support President Assad, altering the dynamics of the war and influencing the balance of power in the region.
The Arab Spring had significant economic consequences in countries like Tunisia and Egypt, leading to budget deficits, increased unemployment rates, and a halt in tourism. The World Bank reported that unemployment remained high in 2016, affecting the region's economic stability.
Tunisia successfully transitioned to constitutional democratic governance, standing out as a positive outcome of the Arab Spring.
In the first quarter of 2019, protests and mass mobilization in Sudan and Algeria led to the toppling of heads of state. Scholar Marina Ottaway highlighted the dilemma faced by genuine grassroots movements in achieving their demands peacefully without violence and human rights violations.
In February 2019, protests in Algeria led to the toppling of the government of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
In April 2019, military leader Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to take Libya's capital city of Tripoli, with support from U.S. President Donald Trump. Scholar Marwan Kabalan highlighted the resurgence of military dictatorships in the region, aiming to counter the progress made during the Arab Spring.
In July 2021, Amnesty International urged UAE authorities to release 60 prisoners of the UAE-94 case who had been detained for nine years after their arrest. These prisoners were held in incommunicado and denied their rights.
In June 2022, Tunisia implemented a new constitution with limited checks on presidential power, raising concerns about the stability of Tunisian democracy.