‘The Arab Spring (Al-Thawrah)’ and Its Origin and Political Changes in the Middle East

After a long absence, the wave of revolutions sweeping the Arab World and the Middle East bears the possibility of triggering internal and external disputes in the Area. In Tunisia, protesters called for the restoration of the country’s suspended constitution. Rising food prices and high unemployment have fueled popular protests from Morocco to Oman. In Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Iran and Libya, protesters are demanding either reform or total revolution. Although a striking resemblance to previous political upheavals as in Europe in 1848 and in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, the 2011 revolutions are fighting something different from them. To understand the revolutions, therefore, it is necessary to analyze their origin and historical background, that is, it needs to examine the political cultural background of the Arab World since the late Othman Empire. In this sense, the work is performed by focusing on two subjects which are related the Arab Revolt and Revolution. The first is to review causes of the Arab civil revolt in general. It tries to inquire into evidence of the political culture that have effect on the Revolution. And then it tries to view a change in international political environment in the Arab World and the Middle East. The second subject to be examined mainly centers on US’ involvement in the Middle Eastern affairs especially after the death of Bin Laden. It will investigate the change of the US policy, what is called the policy of isolation, since the Gulf War. Consequently, the aim of the paper that conceptualizes and defines the Arab Spring will be attained and open to a further argument.