bokri rimah

7/28/2019 bokri rimah

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Rvolution In

TunisiaElaborer par : bokri rimah


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The definition of revolution

Revolutions have occurred through human historyand vary widely in terms of methods, duration, andmotivating ideology. Their results include majorchanges in culture, economy, and socio-politicalinstitutions.

Scholarly debates about what does and does notconstitute a revolution center around several issues.Early studies of revolutions primarily analyzed eventsin European history from a psychological perspective,

but more modern examinations include global eventsand incorporate perspectives from several socialsciences, including sociology and political science.Several generations of scholarly thought onrevolutions have generated many competing theories

and contributed much to the current understanding ofthis complex phenomenon.


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The avantage and

dsavantage of rvolutionin Tunisia


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AdvantageSome foreign policy experts are tracing the revolution in Tunisia to thepervasiveness of social media, but a smart commentary on the radio

program On the Media last week puts the dynamism of popular, modernmovements, particularly in the Arab world, where it belongs: with activecitizens who consume a wide range of media to level informationasymmetries and engage like-minded people.

Foreign Policy magazine blogger Mark Lynch clearly points out that newmedia can help the disaffected organize rapidly, respond more dynamicallyto political might, and use compelling visual images to galvanize peoplearound a cause. But the new media tools in and of themselves are not thecause for a revolution.

Lynch says: Calling Tunisia a Twitter Revolution is simplistic, but evenskeptics have to recognize that the new media environment mattered. I

would suggest that analysts not think about the effects of the new media asan either/or proposition (Twitter vs. Al Jazeera), but instead think aboutnew media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, SMS, etc.) and satellite televisionas collectively transforming a complex and potent evolving media space.


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Pervasiveness of information, images, data, and now morerecentlyconfidential documentsis challengingcorporations, politicians and others to rethink how they engage

stakeholders and citizens in a conversation about theirdecisions and the impact they have on broader society. Still, thefact remains that unreasonable use or abuse of power in todaysworld is bound to get immediate attention so its wise to thinkabout reputation and credibility long before youre put in a

position where secrets are cast onto the Internet.

We can use social media to build support for opinions, but it isoften the actions of governments or businesses that can prompta negative rant or tap into deeper seated disaffection that goes

viral in no time. So, its important to remember that media old or newremains the tool for distributing the message, notcreating it.


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Disadvantage

I spent 6 hours last night having a conversation with twoTunisian sisters that are in Tunisia right now, one of whomwas teaching at the university there.

They both told me that the people there are really happyand jubilant, that they're all finally allowed to say just what

they want and right now it's just an explosion of happinessand profanities towards the old regime..

They dismissed the idea that this is the 'JasmineRevolution' like some had wished and stated that this hasnothing to do with poverty, increased prices for goods and

not anything to do with money (though this is also aconcern of the people).. It's a 'Revolution for Dignity'.. TheTunisian people are absolutely fed up with living in a policestate, having their government spy on them and beinglimited from what they could say..


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The final straw for the young brother that set himself alightwas not increased prices or the lack of jobs.. No.. He washumiliated and had his dignity taken away when a femalepolice officer slapped him in the face in front of everyone..The reverberations of this amongst his tribe were earthshattering, in his tribe, if a man is slapped by a woman heshould either wear a dress or kill himself.. And so he did,

as a sign of protest and to demonstrate how humiliated theTunisian people were all feeling and have been feeling forthe last 23 years.. They are fed up with all of the corruptionof public officials, the oppression by the secret police andthe lack of a voice that the people could express..

So the people protested and bin Ali directed the head of hisarmed forces, General Rashid Ammar to order his soldiersto turn their guns onto their own countrymen, and GeneralRashid Ammar refused, saying he would not do so as they

are his brothers and sisters..


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So the people of Tunisia protested and took bin Ali out ofpower.. In his wake he directed the head of his internalsecurity General Ali Seriati to get his secret police to putthe whole nation into chaos by positioning secret policemarksmen everywhere to kill innocent civilians and to

bomb places to make the people beg bin Ali to return togovern them..

But that's not what happened, whilst the people wereindeed fearful of the marksmen shooting them, they still

protested.. These savages with rifles positioned on the topsof buildings killed many, even my friend's next doorneighbor was shot dead.. Below is a picture from hisJanaza as the people were protesting.. My friend's mothercan be seen in the white hijab on the right mashaALLAH.


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Revolution in Tunisia: People power

topples Ben Ali regime

Tunisian President Zine El-Abedine Ben Ali has beenoverthrown by a people's power uprising that has builtmomentum over the last 4 weeks, culminating in a largerally and protest on January 14 that was attacked by riot

police. Ben Ali attempted major concessions, but they weretoo little and too late. After 23 years in power, Ben Ali andfamily fled the country to Saudi Arabia, joining formerUgandan dictator Idi Amin who was also given refuge inthis middle eastern state.

Tunisia's constitutional council has now declared elections

should be held within 60 days under section 57 of theTunisian constitution, with the chairman of parliament asacting President. The Tunisian Revolution can inspire theworld as people power toppled the dictator but the rulingRCD party remains in power for the moment.

Like in the Iran elections, Social media sites like Twitter,Facebook and Youtube have played a prominent role in


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The revolution in Tunisia may have also been influenced by Wiki leaksthrough the publication of US diplomatic cables which added to the public

perception of the corrupt nature of the Ben Ali regime. You can read What

the US state cables on Tunisia said which also provides an indictment ofUSA, France and other nations that bolstered the corruption and humanrights abuses of the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia.

One of the sparks to this revolution was the death on January 4 of a youngTunisian protester, Mohamed Bouazizi, who set fire to himself on December17 after police stopped him selling fruit and vegetables without a licenseand confiscated his produce. His self-immolation and subsequent deathtriggered a wave of demonstrations across the country. (Antwerp IMC: Ayoung man's desperation challenges Tunisia's repression | story from AthensIMC.

Egyptian born journalist and columnist Mona Eltahawy, who writes onIslamic and arab affairs for several major newspapers, said in an opinion

piece, More Tunisians, Please: "Not once in my 43 years have I thought that

Id see an Arab leader toppled by his people. It is nothing short of poeticjustice that it was neither Islamists nor invasion-in-the-name-of-democracythat sent the waters rushing onto Ben Alis ship but, rather, the youth of hiscountry."


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Reporters Without Borders on January 7 urged the authoritiesto release them as soon as possible. These arrests, intended tointimidate Tunisian Internet-users and their international

backers, are likely to prove counter-productive, by stoking uptension. Arresting several bloggers is not the way to get imagesof demonstrations deleted from the web or for cyber-attacks to

be halted, Reporters Without Borders said. Stepping up therepression is absolutely not a solution to the crisis engulfing

Tunisia today.Popular Tunisian music rapper El Generalreal name HamadaBen Amountwas also reportedly arrested in Sfax, about270kms southeast of Tunis. In his song, President, your peopleare dead, he challenged President Ben Ali over corruption and

unemployment. His video is hugely popular among youngTunisians and widely circulated online. (Vidster: El Gnral President, your people are dead - English subtitles)


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By January 10 there were up to 24 dead in Tunisian uprising,followed by huge numbers of people out on the streets all over the

North African country. Tweets report protesters being shot - with realbullets - in a growing number of towns as dissent turns into potentialrevolution. Some reports state up to 60 people have been killed sofar.

One comment via twitter said: "Remember that nobody ismobilising the masses in Tunisia. This is a spontaneous movement

by people who are so FED UP with it all."

The uprising in Tunisia is already giving hope to dissidents andpopular movements across the arab world of overthrowing their owncorrupt regimes. The Tunisian revolution has inspired manyEgyptians especially political opposition leaders and activists to taketo the streets in celebration of a free Tunisia while hoping anddetermined to bring a revolution to their own country, Egypt.

(youtube video: a protest in Cairo by political opposition activistsand citizens at the Press Syndicate in down town, Cairo.). TheEgyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak fears mass protests.


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Thank you forattention

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