Last year the Arab Spring began when riots erupted in Tunisia in opposition to the then long-standing administration of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. In turn these protests sparked the revolution that sprang up in Egypt, which resulted in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, president of the country for thirty years. However, coverage of rioting in Egypt was far more widespread than it was in Tunisia and in response the global community placed far more significance on the events of Egypt's Revolution than Tunisia's.
Why was this the case? Why has the world paid so much more attention to Egypt than Tunisia, even though it was the riots in Tunisia that ignited what later became known as the Arab Spring?
I believe that this imbalance of attention relates back to each country's significance on the world stage. Going as far back as the post-WWII era world, Egypt began to establish its importance and prominence within the world. In fact, one may even argue that Egypt's own ancient history contributed to its modern-day importance in the Middle East.
Although the 2011 revolutions in both Tunisia and Egypt were not the first revolutions for either country, the disparity in experience in regards to revolution is apparent. Egypt, located much closer to the heart of the Middle East, arose in its first modern revolution in 1919 leading to the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1922. In Contrast, Tunisia was only able to gain its own independence from France in 1956, four years after the Egyptian revolution of 1952. Initiated by a group of army officers, known as the Free Officers Movement the Egyptian revolution of 1952 established the country's first democratic government. Although both nations established themselves as republics around the same time, Egypt had gained much more momentum.
After a military coup carried out by the Free Officers Movement, a democratic government was established in Egypt with Gamal Abdel Nasser as its president. With Nasser's increasingly bold political and military maneuvers, for instance taking control of the Suez canal, it was soon understood that Egypt was a country to be reckoned with.
Conversely, while Egypt was on the rise in terms of its global political importance, Tunisia, although not unimportant, did not gain the same type of prominence with its new president Habib Bourguiba. Bourguiba's pro-western political sentiments did not do much to gain support from its neighboring Arab nations, especially in the climate of the Cold War when so many of those nations were allies of the Soviet Union.
With a burgeoning military and a strategic location, Egypt was a significant country in terms of commerce and diplomatic relations in the Middle East considering its proximity to Israel and its status as a member of the coalition of Arab states. Furthermore, of all the Arab countries in the coalition, Egypt was without a doubt the strongest and most competent militarily and economically.
Despite the major defeat of the Six-Day War in 1967, Egypt reasserted its military power in the Yom Kippur War against Israel in 1973. Although the failure of the Syrian army ultimately led to defeat, the stealth and military prowess Egypt demonstrated established the nation as a major player in the region. Furthermore, Egypt proved to be important in terms of diplomacy as well when president Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty in 1979, signaling Egypt's leave from the coalition.
Meanwhile, Tunisia founded the headquarters of the Arab League in the capital city of Tunis and also supported peace between Israelis and Palestinians, a view very much in line with Egypt's peace treaty with Israel. However, even despite all of this, Tunisia still did not maintain the same importance in the international community that Egypt had garnered over years and years.
Over the years, Egypt's significance in the Middle East has held strong, especially considering its diplomatic importance to the U.S. and Israel as well as the fact that it possesses one of the world's largest armies. All of these factors have contributed to Egypt's overall importance to countries all over the world.
Now, in the wake of revolution, as both Egypt and Tunisia move forward in rebuilding their countries Tunisia has seen far more progress as Egypt is still foundering to reestablish its government. Some have said that Tunisia's weaker military has been an advantage to the reconstruction, a justifiable point considering how much destruction and havoc the Egyptian Armed Forces have caused in their own country. However the fact still remains that more is riding on Egypt and the direction it moves in.
Tunisia's lesser significance in global politics has been a blessing to the nation as it means that they are free of any meddling outside influences or external pressure. And sure enough elections have already concluded a few months ago and the country has a new president. Overall the people of Tunisia have a positive outlook as they pave the way for a brighter future. They have been able to overcome the suffering of the revolution and the corruption of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and now they already have a new government and president, both of which seem to hold a lot of promise for improvement.
In contrast, protests have still continued in Egypt, even after Hosni Mubarak resigned. In fact, following the resignation of Mubarak the Armed Forces Supreme Council stepped in to take power, a move that was not welcomed by virtually all Egyptians. Riots have still been breaking out this fall and even continue to this day between citizens protesting in the street and the Armed Forces. Although Egypt has begun the election process for Parliament it has proceeded slowly, although it appears as though the Islamist parties, mainly the Freedom and Justice Party, have been gaining the majority of seats in Parliament.
Ultimately, because of Egypt's significance within the Middle East as one of the more prominent nations and its importance to many western countries, there is much more at stake in Egypt as it is still in its transition phase. Whichever direction the Egyptian government moves toward will have resounding impacts not only for Egyptians but for citizens of several other countries as well. I am not trying to downplay Tunisia's impact, it is certainly important as well, however the fact cannot be ignored that the world has devoted much more of its attention to Egypt, and for the very same reason aforementioned. Many more countries have ties to Egypt and it has already established itself as one of the most eminent and influential nations of the Middle East. In this case however, prominence has proven a hindrance as Tunisia has far surpassed Egypt with its post-revolution progress.
Both Egypt and Tunisia are important countries, as I believe all countries are important, but the international community has placed more weight on the events unfolding in Egypt and now external pressures and internal pressures are combining to make moving forward in any direction difficult. However, just like the citizens of Tunisia, the Egyptians are determined to elicit change, the difference is that any major changes in Egypt will take longer to institute. Whichever direction Egypt moves in is still a bit uncertain, but if they can manage to install a new and effective government just as Tunisia did the impacts of that will be even stronger and more resounding throughout the Middle East and possibly the world.
Fatima
