If you have never heard of the words ‘revolution’ ‘Egypt’, ‘Libya’ or ‘Gaddafi’ this year, you should probably be hitting Google rather than celebrating the New Year, because all that this world has been screaming from the Middle East this year is something which the more concerned people would know as the Jasmine Revolution. What took off as a very noble cause, with a lot of help from Facebook (yeah, now you remember!) has gone through so many whips and lashes and yes some bouts of new Jasmine growing with Egypt, Libya and Syria. Just when everyone thought that now things will be better, a fresh cascade of bullets and shouts were thrown open leading to another tumultuous uproar.

Here’s a recap at the main Revolutions (yeah, struggle for freedom still happens in the 21st century too!) and the likes in the year 2011.

Most of these revolts turned revolutions were mainly for the following reasons:

1. They got tired of the crappy government system.
2. Recession hit almost everyone and joblessness got to them.
3. Somehow the system of democracy started taking root in their minds.

The Tunisian Revolution

Yes, it took place in Tunisia, a small country in the north east of Africa. This was the start of everything which followed. Even though it started December 2010, it took force only last January. People were unhappy with the ruling system and the rising unemployment so they decided to take to the streets and after protesting relentlessly, their President Zien El Abidine Ben Ali (that’s a mouthful!) resigned and ran away to Saudi Arabia after France refused to take him in. After this the country declared emergency and went into elections last month leading to The Islamist Nahdah party winning majority.

The Egyptian Revolution

Taking example from its neighbour Tunisia, their fight can be stated in just three words – fight for democracy. A simple Facebook status that put a prick to the unrest among the Egyptian people (makes you think of mummies and pyramids right? There’s more to this country than just that) led to hundreds of people collecting at Tahrir Square in Cairo and protesting for the removal of Hosni Mubarak, President for 30 years, and wanted in its place a democracy like so many other countries of the world. In February Mubarak resigned and the military took over the country. What was seen as an example of a successful revolution soon was showing signs of disparity between its Muslim and Christian sections. Voting that took place in November and December in the first two rounds showed that the Islamic Brotherhood was the majority party. The other round of voting is yet to take place. This was one revolution that was touted as a success and a winning one but recent developments say otherwise as the unrest among people clearly hasn’t been quenched.

Libyan Civil War

This was a fight between two factions of people in Libya, those loyal to President Muammar Gaddafi and those against him. Starting in February, it resulted in its escalation when the military started firing on civilians and ended in November when Gaddafi was killed on the 20th of November and Libya was declared a republic. Reasons for the revolt were similar as people had been living under poverty even though they had rich resources and the autocratic ruling of Gaddafi since almost 40 years. Of all the revolutions, Libya put up a strong fight, holding force for months and even hiding from view, trying to make everyone believe that he had their best interest but it all went futile.

Syrian Uprising

People here again took examples from Egypt and Tunisia and decided to finally show President Bashar Al Assad he was no longer liked by his people and joined the ‘Arab Spring’. The Syrian government too tried violent measures to quell the uprising by killing almost 5000+ people till date. The people have been unhappy with Assad’s 10 year rule and want him out but he, like the others, is unwilling to step down. Open your paper tomorrow and there will surely be something on Syria.

Yemen Uprising

If all these names don’t ring a bell to you go back to secondary school and brush up on your geography. It’s surprising how all these countries suddenly realized that they need to do something about their unemployment and poverty and decided to go the revolution way and take President Ali Abdullah Saleh by storm. When the President was injured and ran away to Saudi Arabia (sounds like a safe haven) the people thought they’d won but the struggle still continues even today.

So these were all the main revolutions that took place this year. Apart from this there were others in Bahrain, Algeria and Morocco and a small part of it in China as well, though the communists were quick to hunt it down. As we proceed into a new year may it bring peace into these countries and a little less revolt and lot more love among the people. Down with dictators, in with democracy seems to be the motto for these countries.