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Voices from the Arab Spring: Sustaining Transition, One Year On

A Conversation with Citizen Activists and Experts

1 March 2012
London

'The revolution started because we decided we couldn't wait another day, another hour'.

Over the past year, citizens in countries across the Middle East and North Africa have risen up, demanding sweeping political change.  ISD, in association with CEDAR and the Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Programme, invited leading activists from the region to join a discussion in London with experts on political transition and social media.

Political Transition

'We don't have the democratic institutions yet, to give people a voice, give them dignity’. ‘To succeed in politics, you need media and money. Young people don't have either’. ‘Democracy means letting whoever wins win, not just letting the people you like win’.

Political transition was a major recurring topic of discussion. Several activists argued that the citizens of the Arab world lack experience in operating within a truly democratic political system. Participants repeatedly highlighted the difficulty transitional governments are facing in instituting meaningful reform; challenging the role of national militaries; and building an effective governmental infrastructure.  The same people remain within most of the governmental institutions meaning that there is not a feeling that much has changed. One speaker contended that things have indeed not yet changed for the better for ordinary people, who seek stability and a more promising economic situation. In fact, he asserted that there is rising concern in his country about discrimination against minority communities. A member of the audience then raised the importance of initiating processes of national reconciliation in the aftermath of these revolutions. The role of political Islam was widely discussed, with the universal belief among the activists present that Islamist parties should not be feared but rather treated as conservatives, whose electoral victories must be respected in the same way as any other political grouping.

Social Media

'Hearing someone is bleeding is one thing; seeing the image on your computer is quite different'. 'Social media was important in the revolution, but it wasn't everything'.

One of the main topics of discussion was the role played by Social Media in the events of the Arab Spring. The activists present suggested that, while Social Media initially played an important role in spreading interest in the events of the Arab Spring, its role became less important as time went on. This was partly because the international ‘traditional’ media picked up on the story, and partly because the revolution was, essentially, a revolution by the people, conducted on the streets. For a short but important time window, however, Social Media linked citizens within Arab countries with the world outside, building an enhanced sense of solidarity; messages sent out via Social Media were also picked up by the international media, highlighting the importance of the interplay between old and new forms of media.

International Engagement

'International organisations are helping with capacity building- you have a lot to share. But we will retain our identity'. ‘The current international intervention in Syria is limited to China and Russia sending arms to the regime’.

Several of the participants in the discussion stated that international interest in the events of the Arab Spring has waned considerably in recent months. One participant said that while international assistance with capacity-building is welcomed, it is important for the countries and societies experiencing change to retain their own identities and shape their own futures.

Conclusion

‘The worst case scenario in 5 years will see Tunisia not being a democracy but thinking we are one’. ‘Let's be committed, modest, and honest in our ambitions’.

Wrapping up the discussion, the chairperson highlighted the importance of connecting civil society in Europe and the Middle East, and hearing first-hand accounts from the region.

Regional contributors to this event included Professor Hana Al-Gallal (Libya),Yassine Ayari (Tunisia), and Ayman Farag (Egypt).

Other speakers included prominent UK blogger Sunny Hundal, Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler, a former diplomat and expert in the politics of the Middle East, and a number of activists and bloggers from the region.

View interviews with contributors from the region on ISD's Youtube Channel.

View photos of the event on ISD's Flickr page.