Question 9 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Current Affairs

Question

Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as 'Arab Spring' originally started from

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Tunisia

Strategy: Focus on identifying the country where the first protests of the Arab Spring started. Although Egypt and Syria were in the headlines, the trigger event was in Tunisia, with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi. Recognizing this initial spark is key to picking option D.

Key Info: The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s.

The movement began in Tunisia in December 2010, following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor protesting police corruption and ill-treatment. This act triggered widespread protests that led to the ousting of long-time President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

The momentum from Tunisia's success rapidly spread to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and beyond. Key outcomes included:

- Regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen.
- Significant protests or unrest in other countries.

Tunisia is often cited as the only country where the Arab Spring led to a relatively successful and ongoing democratization process. Egypt and Syria experienced major uprisings later but were not the origin points. Lebanon experienced protests but they were neither as early nor directly connected to the Spring's onset.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Egypt

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Lebanon

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Syria