Introduction
This research paper will discuss the reasons and consequences of the revolutions that took place in the Middle East. The paper will also discuss some of the solutions to these revolutions. For many years, the Arab world has been living under oppressive dictatorships that made their lives difficult. These revolutions began in the year 2010, with thousands of people coming out to support them (McMurray, 2013). However, the people of the Arab world have risen up, to change the situation and restore democracy in their countries. Countries that took part in the revolution include Syria, Egypt, Libya and Yemen (Arab World Uprisings, 2012).
The reasons behind these revolutions
Due to many years of dictatorship in these countries, the economic environment was not conducive to attract investors; therefore many young people had no jobs. The number of young people who were unemployed went up, making university graduates drive taxis to make their living (Behr & Aaltola, 2011). Most of those involved in the revolution were young people who had no jobs to support their families. The economies of these countries would have improved under a credible and competent government. However, the aging dictatorship had run out of ideas to rule their countries, therefore forcing the Arab people to support these revolutions.
Corruption in these countries had made life difficult since it accelerated economic hardships. For example, the government of Egypt had collaborated with business elites to control the country’s resources without the knowledge of its citizens (Asseburge, 2012). In Tunisia, it was impossible to invest in the country without paying a large sum of money to the ruling family.
Consequences of these revolutions
The unrest in the Middle East had a negative impact on the prices of oil in many countries. The Economist admits that the five global recessions witnessed have been triggered by these revolutions. The rise in oil prices led to a rise in commodity prices, especially on food in developing countries (Watenpaugh, 2006).The second economic impact of rising oil prices due to the unrest is that investors lost confidence, therefore there was a negative impact on capital spending. The revolution led to high levels of crime during the political transition, which resulted in worsening of political and economic turmoil in these countries (McMurray, 2013). During the revolutions, many people lost their lives in public demonstrations, while others were wounded or detained by police.
Solutions to the Middle East Revolutions
There are many actions that can be taken by the government and people to stop the revolutions. Leaders should be democratic by ensuring that there are free and fair elections (Dalacoura, 2012). Moreover, every person, especially those in authority, should accept the outcomes of the election and work together to improve the living standards of the people. The government should change the current system to enhance freedom and equal distribution of resources so that people can have a better life. For example, leaders have a responsibility to ensure that they are protected by the law and are allowed to exercise their freedom (Lynch, 2013).
Conclusion
My selection has shown the world that people have the right to be ruled in the right way, and that power is in the hands of the people. The social unrest in the Middle East has been aimed at overthrowing dictators that have ruled for decades. The Arab uprisings have been followed by various interconnected occurrences. For example, in Egypt and Tunisia mass civic revolutions led to the overthrowing of dictators. In some countries, the revolutions led to civil wars that required interventions from the military. The best solution is for leaders to stop being dictators and ensure that the rule of law prevails.
References
Arab World Uprisings: A Country-by-Country Look-Interactive Feature (2012). The New York Times. Web.
Asseburge, M. (2012). Protest, Revolt and Regime change in the Arab World. Web.
Behr, T., & Aaltola, M. (2011). The Arab Uprising Causes, Prospects and Implications. Web.
Dalacoura, K. (2012). The 2011 Uprisings in the Arab Middle East: Political Change and Geopolitical Implications. Web.
Lynch, M. (2013). The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East. New York: Public Affairs.
McMurray, D. A. (2013). The Arab Revolts: Dispatches on Militant Democracy in the Middle East. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Watenpaugh, K. D. (2006). Being Modern in the Middle East: Revolution, Nationalism, Colonialism, and the Arab Middle Class. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.