The Middle East is angry.
This is, at least, what has been observed today by international media desks around the world.
Governments in Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon are all facing protests on a day of anger that seems to be spreading with a domino effect in the Middle East.
Thousands of Egyptians protested today in El Cairo against the government on what they have officially called a "Day of Revolt”.
Days of street protests have been also been held in Tunis demanding the resignation of the cabinet.
Hundreds of supporters of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad al-Hariri, have also taken part in a "day of rage" in protest against Hezbollah's nomination of Najib Mikati to form the next government.
Despite similarities in the protests, these countries aren't just copying each other, their reasons to complain are very different.
Dr Hassan Hakimian, Director of the London Middle East Institute (LMEI at SOAS, spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook to clarify the differences: “Tunis demonstrations have had a positive effect, they showed that the rulers can be challenged, that they are not invincible.” Tunis today might serve as an example for today's demonstrations in Egypt, where protests are inspiring events.
According to Dr Hakimian, events in both Tunisia and Egypt share the same roots, although “each country reflects their local conditions”. Unemployment, especially among the youth, income inequalities and political disparities with the government led to the first protests in Tunis, which have spread to Egypt today.
However, there are also differences between these countries' days of anger.
While Tunisia has already toppled its government, the situation in Egypt is more controlled by the state, at least at the moment: “It is more likely for Tunisia to experience a real change as the government is very new,” says Dr Hakimian.
Lebanon, apart from being further in distance, also reflects a completely different nature of the conflict.
The possibility of a change of Prime Minister in that country made supporters of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri complain by burning tyres and blocking roads today in the northern city of Tripoli, the area that he represents in parliament.
In the case of Lebanon, the cause of those protests has been the fall of the coalition. As Dr Hakimian states: “Egyptian and Tunisian protests come from below, from people in the street, while the change that is going on in Lebanon has to do with changing political forces from above."
By Eva Fernandez
This is, at least, what has been observed today by international media desks around the world.
Governments in Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon are all facing protests on a day of anger that seems to be spreading with a domino effect in the Middle East.
Thousands of Egyptians protested today in El Cairo against the government on what they have officially called a "Day of Revolt”.
Days of street protests have been also been held in Tunis demanding the resignation of the cabinet.
Hundreds of supporters of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad al-Hariri, have also taken part in a "day of rage" in protest against Hezbollah's nomination of Najib Mikati to form the next government.
Despite similarities in the protests, these countries aren't just copying each other, their reasons to complain are very different.
Dr Hassan Hakimian, Director of the London Middle East Institute (LMEI at SOAS, spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook to clarify the differences: “Tunis demonstrations have had a positive effect, they showed that the rulers can be challenged, that they are not invincible.” Tunis today might serve as an example for today's demonstrations in Egypt, where protests are inspiring events.
According to Dr Hakimian, events in both Tunisia and Egypt share the same roots, although “each country reflects their local conditions”. Unemployment, especially among the youth, income inequalities and political disparities with the government led to the first protests in Tunis, which have spread to Egypt today.
However, there are also differences between these countries' days of anger.
While Tunisia has already toppled its government, the situation in Egypt is more controlled by the state, at least at the moment: “It is more likely for Tunisia to experience a real change as the government is very new,” says Dr Hakimian.
Lebanon, apart from being further in distance, also reflects a completely different nature of the conflict.
The possibility of a change of Prime Minister in that country made supporters of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri complain by burning tyres and blocking roads today in the northern city of Tripoli, the area that he represents in parliament.
In the case of Lebanon, the cause of those protests has been the fall of the coalition. As Dr Hakimian states: “Egyptian and Tunisian protests come from below, from people in the street, while the change that is going on in Lebanon has to do with changing political forces from above."
By Eva Fernandez
No comments:
Post a Comment