UPSC Prelims 2014 Q34: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from
- (a) Egypt
- (b) Lebanon
- (c) Syria
- (d) Tunisia
Answer: (d) Tunisia
Explanation
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring began in Tunisia in December 2010.
| Step | Event |
|---|---|
| 17 December 2010 | Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, set himself on fire in protest |
| January 2011 | President Ben Ali fled; called the Jasmine Revolution |
| 2011 | Protests spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain |
What followed:
| Country | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Tunisia | Ruler removed; new constitution |
| Egypt | Hosni Mubarak resigned (February 2011) |
| Libya | Gaddafi overthrown and killed |
| Syria | Long civil war |
| Yemen | President Saleh stepped down; later civil war |
Egypt, Lebanon and Syria were not where the uprisings originally started.
Answer: (d) Tunisia.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Egypt rose in January 2011, after Tunisia.
- (b) Incorrect. Lebanon was not the starting point of the Arab Spring.
- (c) Incorrect. Syria's uprising began in March 2011, later than Tunisia's.
- (d) CORRECT. The Arab Spring originally started from Tunisia.
Key point
Arab Spring: began in Tunisia (December 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, Jasmine Revolution); spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain.
Remember
Arab Spring began in Tunisia, December 2010.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Egypt because Tahrir Square is the best-known image.
- Confusing the Jasmine Revolution (Tunisia) with later events in Egypt.
- Forgetting that Syria's uprising became a civil war.
Exam tip
T for Tunisia, T for 'the first'. Egypt followed a month later.
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs — Annual Report 2011-12 (West Asia and North Africa)
- United Nations — Arab Human Development Report