When is the Arab Spring going to bear fruit?

The very acts themselves are fruits. But if you need something specific, the King Mohammed of Morocco allowed all of the proposed constitutional reforms to be voted on in a national referendum. He even offered the protest leaders the ability to help craft the specific legislation to be voted on (though they refused). Protests continue, but it’s certainly a start.

@SavoirFaire I can see the positive signs, like the televised trial of Hosni Mubarak. A first for the region in my faulty memory.

But the bloodshed in countries like Libya and Syria shows no indications of abating. There is indiscriminate loss of life of young and old. Daily reports of horrific human rights abuses. Why hasn’t the violence there come to an end yet? Are the governments there just a bit more stubborn?

Considering that the American Revolution started in 1776, didn’t produce a functioning government until 1789, and nearly collapsed by 1799, I wouldn’t be holding my breath if I were you.

Serious answer, I’m surprised they’re doing as well as they are. The populations have been under authoritative rule for so long I thought the dictators would roll over them in short order.

@atlantis Yes, the governments there are more stubborn. Given that the Arab Spring covers up to 18 separate movements against entrenched power, the existence of a few major holdouts isn’t really too surprising. Libya, of course, is run by a mad dictator who everyone knew would die before giving up power. Syria, meanwhile, has always been unstable. It has a long history of revolution, and each passing government has been better at holding onto power. I don’t really know much about Yemen, so I cannot comment on the situation there. So while I agree that progress in these three places is taking longer, I wouldn’t say that the Arab Spring has not borne fruit.

@SavoirFaire It’s true that there are discernible gains, but there is still so much instability about the future of the middle east. Libya and Syria are semi-war zones. Every day there is news of some student or doctor being killed.
But maybe that’s the way history is made. I just hope that the casualties stop soon so that nation-building can start and bring true prosperity to the middle east.

I look forward to an entire pan-African Spring. There’s no reason – apart from the kleptocratic governments in place throughout most of that continent – that Africa has to be so generally impoverished as it is. It’s not Shell Oil making Africa poor, it’s the people leading their so-called governments.

How about a spring in Europe or the US? There’s unemployment and declining morale there too.

@atlantis I agree that it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to see the casualties mount; but as you say, that is the way history is made. Here’s hoping your wish for real prosperity comes true soon!