The Ultimate Goal and Impacts of Arab Spring Political Movement

The Arab Spring and Terrorism
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The Arab Spring and Terrorism
When regimes become oppressive, people may use violence to advocate for their freedom. In 2011, a wave swept across Arab nations where people agitated for change in governance. The Arab Spring is a concept denoting a wave of violent and non-violent protests and other forms of opposition to the authorities that swept Arab territories in 2011. The protests were triggered in December 2010 when a policewoman confiscated the unlicensed cart of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi (Makara, 2013). The policewoman allegedly slapped Bouazizi and abused him. When he tried protesting with the local authorities, they refused to meet him. Bouazizi responded by setting himself on fire, an action that triggered anti-government protests throughout Tunisia. The protests demonstrated the widespread dissatisfaction the population had towards the status quo. When Bouazizi died ten days later in the hospital, it sparked a wave of protests across the country. The Tunisian government attempted to control the unrest using violent means and political concessions. However, the protests overwhelmed the security forces, hence forcing President Pres. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to step down and flee the country.
The Tunisian revolution ignited a wave of protests throughout the Arab world. The pro-democracy protests and uprisings were challenging the region's authoritarian regimes. Ben Ali's ouster in Tunisia specifically inspired similar moves in other Arab nations (Saidin, 2018). Egypt organized similar protests via social media, mostly Facebook. The Egyptian government cracked down on violent protesters while also offering concessions. After several days of clashes between the security forces and the protesters, the Egyptian army called for the removal of President Hosni Mubarak while refusing to use force against the protesters (Makara, 2013). The rapid successes in Tunisia and Egypt encouraged protest movements in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Syria. In Egypt, the movement led to the emergence of groups, some of which would later engage in terrorism activates. The movement has been critical in creating avenues for terrorist groups to thrive.
One of the outstanding groups during the Arab Spring in Egypt is Muslim Brotherhood. Founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the organization spread its teachings far beyond Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood branded itself as a Pan Islamic and social movement that spread Islam ideologies in Egypt and educated the illiterate. The group also engaged in social activities, including setting up hospitals and business enterprises. With time, the organization advanced to the political field, where it aimed to frustrate British control in the country. The major motivation of the Muslim Brotherhood is the establishment of a state ruled by Sharia law (Görmüş, 2016). Members believe that Islam is the solution to the problems facing the nation and the world. The group advances its cause via charitable activities, hence increasing its membership and support from the public.
There are two major sources of funding for the Muslim Brotherhood. The first one is the membership fee, where members...