What was the arab spring?

The Arab Spring refers to a wave of protests and uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East that began late in 2010 and lasted through 2012.

Some effects and impacts of the Arab Spring are still being felt. The movements started in Tunisia as people there revolted against the corrupt and dictatorial regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. He was deposed and Tunisia implemented democratic reforms as a nation. Tunisia is probably the one example of a country where the Arab Spring succeeded in its goals.

Following the lead of Tunisian protesters, similar actions followed in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Syria. In Libya and Egypt, long-time rulers were deposed (Gaddafi in Libya, Mubarak in Egypt). But those countries have struggled with political messes since then, and civil wars continue to ravage Yemen and Syria.