Newswise — The Arab Spring began in early 2011 in Tunisia as a demonstration in support of a street vendor who committed suicide to protest his mistreatment at the hands of a city official. Since then, the movement has spread throughout the Arab world to protest corruption in government and human rights violations. With many nations recently marking the one-year anniversaries of these revolutionary events, two Florida State University faculty members are available to provide analysis and perspective.
•Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, lecturer in international affairs and political science, (850) 644-4454; [email protected]
Wiebelhaus-Brahm’s research focuses on political transitions, democratization, human rights and post-conflict reconstruction:
“One year on, the fate of the Arab Spring revolutions is far from clear. Many countries in the region are poised for political transformation more radical than anything seen since independence. Although the broad public consensus on the need for greater political participation gives reason for hope, religious and tribal tensions, the continued power of anti-democratic forces in society, and the difficulty of promoting economic development mean that democracy is anything but a certainty in any Middle Eastern country.”
•Will Hanley, assistant professor of history, (850) 728-6582; [email protected]
Hanley, whose research focuses on Egypt, can discuss the protests in a broad historical context, with particular reference to the colonial background of the Middle East. He also can address the legal dimension of the regime changes:
“Genuine revolutionary transformations take years, not days or weeks. In many ways, the second year of the Egyptian revolution promises to be more important than its first year, which has just ended. Now we will see if the newly elected parliament and the bold forces of civil society will succeed in displacing the old regime, which (despite the fall of Mubarak) remains in control of Egypt.”
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