The Tunisian Revolution and how it ignited the Arab Revolution

In 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi was selling fruits in the small town of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. He was a breadwinner for his widowed mother and six siblings. The problem was, he didn’t have a permit to sell his goods. When the police asked him to stop what he was doing, he refused and was then beaten in public. As a result of this public humiliation he marched to the government building and set himself on fire. The Arab Spring began in Sidi Bouzid and spread all across the country of Tunisia. Civilians across Tunisia protested for the fall of President Zine Al Abidine and his regime, who ruled for 23 years. The Tunisian revolution ignited the protest of many other Middle Eastern nations who wanted a fair democracy and for the fall of their current governments regime.

Tunisia had been seen as the Arab world’s best educational system, largest middle class, and strongest organized labor movement, so it seemed unlikely that they would have to be dealing with these social and economic injustices. Primoz Manfreda states, “In an almost Orwellian way, he cultivated and manipulated the country's international image as a modern, technocratic regime and a tourist-friendly travel destination.” Their government was thought to be very limiting and restricting on free expression and political parties, which obviously angered Tunisian civilians. Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali, president of Tunisia, shaped the world into believing Tunisia was a modern day, tourist friendly nation, however beyond the tourist destinations, lay bleak roads to miserable prospects. To further anger civilians, it was revealed from wikileaks that over half of Tunisia’s commercial elites were related to Ben Ali. After mass protests and uprisings, Ben Ali and his family fled the country. This ended the mass revolution and Ben Ali and his family are now in exile in Tunisia.

For now, the situation in Tunisia isn't necessarily over, but has only gotten better. Progress is being made, but the goal of the revolution has not been fulfilled yet. Nonetheless, the Tunisian Revolution was definitely one that made history and changed the country for the better.