THE CHAIM HERZOG CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES & DIPLOMACY מרכז חיים הרצוג לחקר המזרח התיכון והדיפלומטיה مركز حايم هرتصوغ لدراسات الشرق اﻷوسط والدبلوماسية Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheva, Israel Vol. 17 Nov. 2012 The Transformation in the Middle East and its Challenges Prof. Yoram Meital Chair, The Chaim Herzog Center he civil uprising that T erupted in the beginning of 2011 marks a turning point in the history of the modern Middle East. The slogan “The people want the fall of the regime” continues to reverberate throughout the Middle East, and in some of its centers the uprising is already generating a variety of changes in various areas. The establishment of post-authoritarian regimes is the most complex challenge that the revolutionaries are currently facing. This historical process poses also In this Issue: Arab civil protest 2012 The Transformation in the 1-3 Middle East and its Challenges a complex challenge for scholars In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi’s studying the Middle East. regime was defeated only after Conferences & Workshops 3-11 The dynamics of the protest that months of bloody armed conflict. Events 11-15 turned into an uprising have taken Massive public pressure brought different forms since the vendor Ali Abdullah Saleh’s presidency Cinema 16-18 Mohamed Bouazizi set himself in Yemen to an end. In Syria the Book Events 18-20 on fire, but have also important Assad regime employs particularly distinctive features. In Tunisia and brutal measures to repress the civil Jama‘a 21 Egypt the mass protests managed to uprising. The protest against the Scholarships 22-23 overcome the repressive measures regime in Bahrain was suppressed, taken by the regimes of Zine al- but its causes are still topical. Calls Calendar 24 Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak. for significant change in leadership We Invite you to browse our new website: http://humweb2.bgu.ac.il/herzog/he 1 and policy are also heard in Sudan, Jordan and in the West Bank. One of the distinctive features of the dramatic and profound change affecting these Arab societies is the crucial role played by “power of the masses”. Wherever a significant uprising occurred, it was clearly not associated merely with a single sector or party. The absence of a single “address” during the critical phase of the difficult confrontation strengthened the camp of the uprising, allowing various social sectors to identify with its main goals and to join its ranks. The banner of the uprising was raised by the men and women of the younger generation. They were able to utilize the new media in various ways in their struggle. Online social networks, email, blogs, text messaging and mobile phone cameras were not only used to establish vital contacts and to recruit activists and supporters, but also functioned as a framework for creating solidarity in the Internet age. Satellite TV channels (in particular, al-Jazeera) provided a sympathetic Tahrir Square (Cairo), May 2011 platform for the civil uprising. Yet, the oung people’s protest The more brutal the repression Egyptians’ well-known sense of would not have developed into a became, the wider became the humor provided an everyday venue popular uprising, if it had not been resistance camp, rallying support to criticize “the situation”. Zakaria joined by other social sectors, from all social strata. The “power Tamer’s short stories revealed including many who are not of the masses” emerged in this the brutality of the Assad regime. connected to Facebook, do not context; they could rightly carry Intellectuals in exile wrote endlessly read emails, and do not have mobile the banner of the uprising as “the about the tyranny of the regimes phones. Millions participating in the people” and demand “the fall of the in Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and uprising expressed their dissent by regime”. Morocco. “Prison literature” became “traditional” means: They marched * * * a popular genre. The leaders of on foot; shouted with hoarse Living for decades under various regimes set ground rules throats: “The people want the fall authoritarian regimes turned most that effectively thwarted the option of the regime”; thousands were of the population in many Arab of changing the government by killed; and huge sums of money are societies into a “silent majority”. legal means. Political, security and required to fix the damage caused Various silencing mechanisms were economic interests provided the to infrastructure and property. put in place, from the imposition authoritarian regimes throughout the The brutal repression turned in of the hegemonic narrative and Middle East with broad international a horrifying manner into a major the censorship of opinions and support. The preservation of the factor that widened the resistance creativity, to the persecution, status quo was top priority for camp. In the eyes of the general imprisonment and torture of these oppressive regimes and their public, the repressive measures dissidents. Expressions of dissent partners in the international arena. employed by the security forces were apparent, especially in the The “stability” that they aimed to proved above all that the regime works of writers, poets, playwrights, preserve collapsed like a house of and its leaders lost their legitimacy. film makers and artists. The cards in the civil uprising. 2 Two tools were dominant in of the traditional power centers, influence, the future character of the early days of the uprising: the and in the public sphere there were the regime and its policies and of truncheons of the internal security spectacles characteristic of large- society. This extensive process of forces and the police; and the scale uprisings. The power of the change has significant implications determination of the first wave of Arab civil society was revealed in a for the regional policies of the protesters, most of whom were totally unanticipated manner, and leading states in the international youngsters, male and female (who the entire world watched, be it in community. proudly carried the title “shabab” amazement and admiration, or in * * * [youth]). The more brutal the fear and panic. The dramatic changes in the Middle means of repression employed The actions of the “masses” East pose a considerable challenge by the regime became, the more charged terms like “freedom”, to scholars. The overthrow of the numerous became the citizens “change” and “social justice” with authoritarian regimes (mostly from among the “masses” who new, concrete meanings. Indeed, presidential republics) and the supported the demonstrators the euphoria and expectations for new role played by civil society and gradually joined their ranks. rapid change were soon replaced have been addressed in countless Surmounting the “fear barrier” by fierce debates on crucial issues conferences and academic brought a dramatic change in and serious concerns mainly for the publications. Researchers from the power relations in the public social implications of the dramatic various disciplines have examined sphere. In the confrontation with change. Alongside expressions of the events and shared their the security forces, and at times continuity, changes in the system insights. Different answers have the army, a feeling of solidarity of government and in policy are been offered to the question how emerged among the protesters also clearly visible. A new political one should deal with the current that became the source of infinite discourse is being created in transformation in the Middle East. energy to continue their struggle. everyday social practices and The Chaim Herzog Center intends The solidarity was formed without activities in urban public spaces to give this issue priority in the next intermediaries and became one and in the discussions in the five years. In addition to symposia of the prominent features of this media, be it new or traditional. in which prominent researchers unique “moment”. The fury was Institutions of civil society began to will present their work in their the external expression of the operate in a range of fields. At the respective fields of expertise, awareness that the just struggle same time, the transitional phase we intend to hold a conference has a chance this time. The is characterized by the collapse of at the beginning of the academic “submissive” Arab citizen claimed the internal security systems (which year 2012-13, that will focus on his rights and was ready to fight were a pillar of the repressive how the Israeli government and for his voice to be heard. As the regimes) and by severe economic society experience the historical uprising gathered strength, the problems. Crucial struggles changes in the Middle East, and tables turned. Now there was an between the new and old political the political, social and economic atmosphere of fear in the chambers forces are fought over positions of implications for Israel. CONFERENCES & W or K S H O P S In Search for Peace in Middle East Turmoil he Chaim Herzog Center already resigned, and the civil war the Gulf Emirates. Taking these T held its annual international in Libya had reached a climax, events into consideration as well conference on June 1-2, before Gaddafi was captured. as the initiative launched by Israeli 2011. The conference focused The uprising in Syria was still in public figures, prior to the Arab on the Israeli reaction to the its initial stage; in Yemen an ever Spring, in response to the Arab Arab peace initiative against the growing number of voices called peace initiative of 2002, the Chaim background of the wave of dramatic for the resignation of President Herzog Center perceived the developments that already then Saleh; and demonstrations of need for a conference combining were called ‘the Arab Spring.’ By various sizes were seen in all these two burning issues. The June 2011 President Mubarak had Arab states from North Africa to changes that begin to emerge 3 Israel and the Palestinians.