Protest Movements and Political

January 28, 2011

Change in the Arab World
Marina Ottaway and Amr Hamzawy

Summary

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






Increase in Protest












Overview of Protest Movements in

Key Arab States

Egypt—









2













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
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Jordan—
























 The uprising
 that started in
 Tunisia in late
Morocco—
 2010 was not a
 completely new
 development,

 but a more
 dramatic example

of the unrest
Algeria—
 common across
 the region,


particularly
 in Egypt,
 Morocco,

 Algeria, and
Jordan.
4
































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Tunisia—










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



5
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




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







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






















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Gulf Countries—








6






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




















 All episodes
 of protest

 have political
 implications,
 particularly in

authoritarian
Politicization of protest and semi-
 authoritarian


countries where
 demonstrations
 and even strikes

 are strictly
 controlled if
 not outright

 banned.

7




 There is a
 significant
 difference

 between protest
 that remains
 focused on

 social and
 economic


grievances and
 is organized on
 a local basis,


and protest
 that starts
 with these

 grievances
 but quickly
 escalates

 to political
 demands.




















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











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Organizations in Protest Movements
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




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Labor Protest
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





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











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9
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Leftist Movements
 Activists rooted
 in the traditions
 of labor unions

 and leftist
 parties argued


that the use of
 social media
 creates short-


lived coalitions
 but not lasting
 structures and

 organizations.







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Islamist Movements
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


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









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



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



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







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Youth Movements
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






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






 The uprising


in Tunisia
 showed how
 quickly youth


can mobilize
 even in the
 absence of

 organizational
 structures.





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Bloggers
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











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Assessing the Protest Movement
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


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








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






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







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
Publics in Arab
 countries that
 want change

 are also right in
 feeling inspired
 by events in

 Tunisia and in
 believing that
 change can

 happen and
 authoritarian


rulers can be
 removed in
 spite of their

 mighty security
 services.






Notes
1
Joel Beinin, “Underbelly of Egypt New Neoliberal Agenda,” Middle East Report, April 5, 2008,
http://www.merip.org/mero/mero040508.html.
2
Joel Beinin and Hossam el-Hamalawy, “Strikes in Egypt Spread From Center of Gravity,”
Middle East Report, May 9, 2007, http://www.merip.org/mero/mero050907.html.
3
News Report: “Workers Leadership Forms Preparatory Committee for Workers,” The Socialist, Center
for Socialist Studies, Pub. 1, July 2009.
4
“The Struggle for Workers’ Rights in Egypt,” Solidarity Center Report,
http://www.solidaritycenter.org/files/pubs_egypt_wr.pdf, 15.
5
Joel Beinin, “Underbelly of Egypt New Neoliberal Agenda”
6
“Labor Protests Politics and Workers Rights in Egypt,” Event transcript, February 17, 2010, Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace,
http://carnegieendowment.org/files/0218_transcript_egypt_labor_protests.pdf, 16.
7
Jean Shaoul, “Egypt Gripped by Social Unrest,” World Socialist Web Site, May 13, 2010,
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/may2010/egyp-m13.shtml.
8
Noha El Hennawy, “Egypt’s Opposition Seeks to Translate Social Discontent Before Elections, October
5, 2010, Al-Masry al-Youm, http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/eye-elections-
egypt%E2%80%99s-opposition-seeks-translate-social-discontent-0.
9
Jillian Schwedller, “More Than a Mob: the Dynamics of Political Demonstrations in Jordan,”
Middle East Report, no. 226, http://www.jstor.org/pss/1559278, 18.
10
“Salary Hike Comes After a Day of Protest: Jordan Hikes Govt Salaries in Face of
Discontent,” Al Arabiya News Channel, January 21, 2011,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/01/21/134409.html.

13
11
Ahmad Hamoush “A Week of Disturbances Besieges al-Fassi Government,” IslamOnline.net
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=ArticleA_C&cid=1209357533892&pagename=Zone-
Arabic-News/NWALayout
12
“Algeria Democracy Rally Broken Up: Several Injured as Police Disperse 300 People Who Defied a Ban
and Attempted to Demonstrate in Capital,” AlJazeera, January 22, 2011,
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/2011122105819527114.html.
13
Mary Ann Tetreault, “Kuwait Annus Mirabilis,” Middle East Report, September 17, 2006,
http://www.merip.org/mero/mero090706.html.

MARINA OTTAWAY 
















AMR HAMZAWY 

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