Some say that daily consumption of Jasmine helps in preventing cancer. Sometimes an autocratic rule is like a rigid cancer. What Jasmine tea does to cancer, Jasmine revolution in Arab has done exactly the same in many countries in Western Asia and Arab. Although the Jasmine revolution which we are talking about has nothing to do with actual Jasmine flower. But Jasmine is the name of national flower of the country, Tunisia, where it all began.
Jasmine Revolution, better known as “Arab Spring” started in Tunisia when a young man set himself on fire to oppose corrupt police/governance. This incident triggered a mass movement against 26-year old dictatorship in Tunisia. People of Tunisia were fed up with fast deteriorating living condition, lack of political freedom and unprecedented corruption. The uprising spread like a wildfire in countries like Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Syria in that order. In Egypt, it ended 30 year autocratic rule, although shown on paper as democratic – by rigging elections, of Hosni Mubarak. Same was the case in Yemen, a poor country, where people had a lot of angst against growing corruption, unemployment and economic hardship. Next comes the land which is very rich in Oil and natural gas, Libya. The revolt against 41-year, capricious and autocratic rule of Muammer Qaddafi was a major part of Arab spring. Next comes Syria, where protest against 10-year old rule of Bashar al Assad was demanded by people.
Oil, China, Israel, geo-strategic interests, and weapons are five major reasons why US and its western ally are akin to shape Arab revolution to fulfill their own agenda. The Arab revolution is likely to change the regional balance of power decisively. The US-led “axis of moderation” and Iran-led “axis of resistance” are unlikely to endure the current upheaval. The contest between Iran and US has intensified after the Arab uprising. It will also affect a long war between Israel and Palestine. Whereas India is mainly concerned about three things: large oil supplies, their own people living in those countries and larger geo-strategic impact on west Asian neighboring countries.
The year 2011 will be remembered as the year of change for entire Middle East region where this revolution happened. It has certainly changed the power equations world over. Next decade will be important for countries like Israel, which has major threats from Palestine and Iran; US, who has just recovered from recession and has tactful interest in natural oil reserves in that region; Iran, who wants more amicable relationship with Middle East countries.
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