No, everything isn't attributable to the Arab Spring!

"These days, it seems like observers and journalists -- as well as participants -- are quick to attribute any street demonstration or public unrest to the domino effect from the Arab Spring. Not that Foreign Policy would ever do this, of course. Sometimes, though, a protest is just a protest.

SPAIN/GREECE

"The nature of the peaceful protest, including Twitter messages to alert supporters, echoed the pro-democracy rallies that revolutionised Egypt. ... In another echo of the Cairo rallies that eventually forced President Hosni Mubarak from power in February, the Spanish protesters have set up citizens' committees to handle communications, food, cleaning, protest actions and legal matters." — BBC, May 18, 2011

"On Sunday, some banners even evoked the Arab Spring movement to oust authoritarian rule. 'From Tahrir Square to Syntagma Square, we support you!' read one banner." — Daily Mail, June 6, 2011

"Like the Arab Spring protests, Spain's anti-austerity demonstrations were spurred by mass youth unemployment. But unlike young people in the Arab world, Spain's demonstrating youth live in one of the world's most generous welfare states and have the right to vote out their leaders. That's not to say that their grievances aren't serious or that their protests aren't significant, but the parallel doesn't quite work. It would be unfortunate if "Tahrir Square" were turned into the 21st-century equivalent of the Che Guevara T-shirt."

Continue reading this piece from FP [Foreign Policy] here.

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Mahler's Prodigal Son

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