Insight Turkey
Insight Turkey
Challenging ideas
On Turkish politics and International affairs

Insight Turkey > Commentaries |

A Fire in the Minds of Arabs: The Arab Spring in Revolutionary History

Fire is both the symbol of revolution and its most potent weapon. Much like the American Revolution and other key historic events, the Arab Spring began with fire when Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight to protest his treatment by police. Ever since the Arab Spring’s onset, experts have debated about its eventual conclusion and concentrated on major forces, including the army and the clergy. The future of the revolutions, however, rests with the masses in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Syria. The uprisings marked deep and irreversible changes in the Arab world and will inevitably entail future repercussions. For onlookers, the best policy is not to interfere, but to let the fire burn.

A Fire in the Minds of Arabs The Arab Spring
Egyptian army blocked the anti-coup demonstrators from entering Tahrir Square. AA
 

In December of 2005, a high level official of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, was invited to address a small gathering of U.S. and European senior retired government officials in a conference room at a Beirut hotel.1 Joining the Hamas official was a prominent Salafist from Syria, who’d traveled from Damascus to provide a commentary on the Hamas official’s presentation. The meeting’s organizers met to explore and assess the growing strength of politically motivated Islamists. 

Already have an account? Sign In.
Print Subscription
4 Print Issues
Subscribe
Digital Subscription
4 Digital Issues
Subscribe
Premium Subscription
4 Print Issues
4 Digital Issues
Subscribe

Labels »  

We use cookies in a limited and restricted manner for specific purposes. For more details, you can see "our data policy". More...