Revolution is back and it is heating things up. The revolution that started in Tunisia in late December, which toppled Ben Ali, spread to Egypt, which has done away with Hosni Muburak and is now unleashing its wrath in Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and even Iraq. That the Middle East and North Africa is the location of 21st century's first revolutions should come as no surprise to anyone. However, the extent to which this will alter the trajectory of the global economy, U.S. imperialism, and international class struggle is still being determined as I write.
The Middle East has been at the center of world political and economic affairs since the end of World War II. It's strategic geopolitical position and abundance in oil have made it a vital link in the chain of the world economy. In fact in the last three decades world recessions can trace their roots back to the Middle Eastern oil market, just think the Arab oil embargo in 72, Iranian Revolution of 79 or Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 90. A revolution in the Middle East, therefore, will have tremendous economic consequences, and in turn social and political repercussions.
The uprising in the Arab world has three underlying causes,
1)
the global recession: The effects of the global recession have been devastating to countries all across the Middle East. Unemployment is extremely high, in Tunisia the unemployment rate is at 14 percent, and the number rises when we speak of the young, who have in the most cases played leading roles in the revolt. Moreover, in the last three decades the Middle East has seen its demographic change dramatically. In Egypt for example half of the population is under 25, while 36 percent is between the ages of 15-35. Neoliberalism and the rein of the free market has gutted social spending and lowered the working class' living standards through privatization. The rise of food prices is also at the heart of the global recession do to the increasing rise of commodities.
2)
the lack of democracy and political freedoms: When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 to "liberate" Iraqis no one felt more anger and rage then the people of the Middle East. The earning for real freedom was always there, but not in the hands of an invading army. You have a region filled with regimes that have lasted well over decades (Ben Ali 81, Mubarak 81, Qaddafi 69, or the various kingdoms of Bahrain, Saudia Arabia), but all these regimes apparently didn't make U.S.'s "liberation" cut. The hypocrisy was plain to see and it fueled many since, especially after the people of Gaza exercised their democratic right to elect Hamas, only to be strangled by Israel.
3)
the crisis of U.S. imperialism: The U.S. is stuck in the quagmire of Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel is still trying to recover mentally from its defeat in the hands of Hizbollah and is in the middle of an intense
cyber war with Iran's nuclear computer programming system. But the fact that the most of the regimes in the Middle East could not show an inch of solidarity with the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine proved that the interest of people from below needed to be exerted, and that these old men needed to be done away with.
Thus you have a revolt demanding, jobs, food, democracy, and to a certain extent a mass rejection of U.S. influence in the region, politically, economically and militarily.
The Arab spring is young, the Tunisian and Egyptian revolution is still in transition. Iran has jailed most opposition leaders. Saudia Arabia is diverting 36 billion dollars in oil revenue for social spending. Bahrain's Khalifa and the U.S. Navy fifth fleet their is still a source of mass discontent. Libya is caught in a civil war, between Qaddafi and the rebel forces, some who are wrongfully arguing for outside intervention. The factors are still at play and more importantly the working class has begun to see its power. This should guarantee a very hot summer. Welcome back Revolution!
