Politics of the Middle East is very complicated. Each other country presents a unique style of government. Most countries are republics, some are kingdoms, and there is one sultanate. Most Arab peoples have suffered undemocratic and oppressive governments over their long histories, and few revolutions and coups have taken place in the past.

The most recent revolution in the Arab world took place in Tunisia, which is a small North African state, with a population of about 10.5 million people. The oppression  of the late regime lead to mass protests which the army refused to crush, a matter that lead to overthrowing the Tunisian president Ben Ali, and the formation of an interim government. Demonstrations are still underway in Tunisia against the interim government, as people regard it as an extension of Ben Ali’s regime, and they look forward to more change. The Tunisian uprising or revolution has been given many names like Jasmine Revolution, the People’s Revolution and Dignity Revolution.

This event has been very significant in all Arab countries, as it opened people’s eyes to the fact that change can occur and that oppressive governments can be overthrown.  Now, unrest is prevailing in many Arab countries, most notable Egypt that has been ruled for 30 years under emergency laws. Calls for demonstrations are repeated among young people and on social media networks. The government is struggling to keep the calm in Egyptian streets.

The Tunisian revolution found its spark when a Tunisian young man called ‘Bouazizi’

committed suicide in public by setting himself on fire in protest against police brutality. In Egypt, 6 people have copied him so far. In other Arab countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Mauritania, others have done the same thing. Demonstrations are being organized in different countries and governments are trying hard to maintain them.

The West is observing anxiously as the Middle East is struggling to change!