As the Arab world witnessed the bestowing of the Nobel Peace Prize upon Tunisian civil society organisations, some commentators have argued this is proof that the Arab Spring is not dead after all. Is that the point, indeed, to be drawn?
Four years ago, there was still a sense that the Arab world was enduring “growing pains” in the midst of an Arab Spring, and it wasn’t going to be easy. Certainly, in October 2011, with the killings of mainly Coptic Egyptian civilians in the streets of Cairo by state forces, the raging war in Libya and the turmoil elsewhere, no one was naive about it. But there was still an enduring belief that there was an alternative choice – beyond autocracy and oppression.
This year that sort of sobering attitude has been largely replaced by something far more cynical. We see how, even far beyond the Arab world, there is the suggestion that the international community should work with Bashar Al Assad in Syria against ISIL. In the process, it appears far too many people have forgotten that Mr Al Assad’s regime is responsible for far more deaths than ISIL. But such is the logic of this cynical, short-sighted security paradigm, we must ignore all other considerations and go after the terrorists.
Against that backdrop, what kind of hope is there, really, for any Arab Spring? That is a luxury, isn’t it?
No, it isn’t. Tunisia is, per capita, one of the largest countries responsible for delivering recruits into the hands of radical groups like ISIL. The number of Tunisians fighting in Syria, Iraq or Libya is staggering. It would have been very easy for Tunisians to fall into that mode of “this is not the time for anything but security; everything else must be put to one side as we sort this out”. Other countries in the region, such as Egypt, have taken that approach, so Tunisia could have easily done the same.
That choice might have been particularly easy in 2013, when the Quartet that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize carried out its work. Tunisia had suffered a score of assassinations, and the rise of ISIL in the region more generally could easily have lent credence to the notion that it was time to pull the plug on any type of transition. Fundamental rights make a country stronger, but they are also harder to protect.
But that was the choice that the Tunisians made, between Islamists like Ennahda and others among the leftist and liberal camps. The alternative they chose allowed for the democratic experiment in Tunisia to continue – not to succeed, because that still has not yet happened, but to continue. The transitional process in Tunisia remains a reality, where tension between different political forces exists, but there is a level of consensus on the basic “rules of the game”.
It was not the easiest choice to make. Arguably, it was the best and most enduring one, because it served to underpin a sustainable stability that could allow Tunisia to prosper. But it required political forces in Tunisia to recognise that in revolutionary uprisings such as these, everyone has to win. Accountability has to be ensured and consensus has to be there at the beginning. Had the Quartet not succeeded in 2013, one can only imagine that the challenges that Tunisia continues to face would be far worse today.
Four years after the uprising in Tunisia, Tunis is now one of the most significant centres for civil society in the Arab world. It is where human rights organisations and civil rights groups feel most at liberty to carry out their work, without fear of reprisal or repression. Many an Arab Spring country hoped to be like that, but Tunisia got there first. One hopes they won’t be the last.
Tunisia is one of the smallest Arab countries in the region, but its contribution is certainly not minor. In history, the judgement of revolutionary periods takes a great deal of time, and the revolutionary uprisings that took place in 2011 are the consequences of decades of oppression, repression and neglect. One has to look at those uprisings as such: they are reactions when other options at reform had shown themselves impossible. They are, necessarily, chaotic because they were born out of turmoil.
But such historical eventualities also have the option of working themselves out over time. Tunisia is an example of that – and one hopes that the example it has shown will be recorded in history books.
Congratulations, indeed, are due to the people of Tunisia – and one hopes the Arab world continues to benefit from their positive lessons.
Dr HA Hellyer is an associate fellow in international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute in London, and the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC
On Twitter: @hahellyer
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Business Insights
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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Company%20Profile
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20Profile
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Book%20Details
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Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)
Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Wydad 2 Urawa 3
Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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