2011 birthed the ‘’Arab Spring’’ coined by an America academic; the term refers to the uprising in the Middle East. But, since then, what has the Arab spring accomplished? What is the state of the Middle East five years on?

Arab Spring refers to the revolt that saw a revolutionary wave of protests, riots and civil wars in the Middle East. Some might say it started on December 18th 2010 in Tunisia, and erupted through to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

The repercussions of the Arab Spring hit Syria hard, some analysts say that it is one of the major causes of the on-going civil war in Syria at the moment. So, what did the Arab Spring movement really create?

The protestors came with demands; an end to oppressive governments, and a call for revolutionary democracy. Some of the demonstrations were met with violence, coming from both government authorities, and political disagreements within social groups, causing uproar between neighbours and friends, and as a result, a civil war erupted.

Tunsia

The fall of Tunisia’s President, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali inspired pro-democracy movements throughout the Arab world. It all began in December of 2010, where a bold protest took the life of 25-year-old, Tarek Al-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi. He set fire to himself, after he was denied the right to sell vegetables in Sidi Bouzid. The brave death of Bouazizi sparked community outrage, and mass protests around the country, and shortly after, throughout the Arab world.

Algeria, Jordan and Oman followed suit, although the protests were inspired by Bouazizi’s bold action, the revolution had been brewing for years. There was a sense of frustration in the air, people were standing up and voicing their opinions, after being fed up with years of economic hardship, corruption, and autocratic rule.

The uprising forced Ben Ali to resign in January 2011, after 23 years in power, and later, Saudi Arabia sentenced him to life in prison.

Fiver years on, Tunisia is ruled by veteran dissident Mocef Marcouski, after the moderate Islamist Ennahda party won the majority vote, in the democratic parliamentary elections.

Egypt

The uprising in Tunisia contagiously resulted in demonstrations in Tahrir Square, Cario, with hopes of President Mubarak’s downfall. He was overthrown quickly, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood took place. With the country divided, the police and army (which had supported Mubarak and secularism) also had a dominant presence, raging a war against the Muslim Brotherhood – leaving the people of Egypt in a bitter division.

Syria

It’s safe to say that the Arab Spring didn’t work out well for Syria, with the rise of Islamic State terrorising the idea of greater freedom. Post Arab Spring, there are two conflicting ideologies at play: secularism and the desire for a more fundamental Islam.

President of Syria, Bashar Assad, is on the opposing hand of ISIS. Having survived against the revolutionists, his support remains strong in Syria. There are secular divisions, but even those in the West, prefer him to Islamic State.

Six weeks prior to the uproar in Darra, Assad says his people do not want an uprising.

“Why is Syria stable, although we have more difficult conditions? Egypt has been supported financially by the United States, while we are under embargo by most countries of the world. We have growth although we do not have many of the basic needs for the people. Despite all that, the people do not go into an uprising. So it is not only about the needs and not only about the reform. It is about the ideology, the beliefs and the cause that you have. There is a difference between having a cause and having a vacuum.” Syrian President Bashar Assad, January 31 in interview with The Wall Street Journal.

After all the chaos, the world is left wondering if the Arab Spring affected the Middle East in a positive way? Analysts are divided on the matter, so it's hard to find a clear answer.

With the state of the world in constant alert from the terrors of Islamic state, a new evil has emerged, holding black flags, and severed heads. With the threat of imminent danger around the corner, to the people it doesn’t seem like the Arab Spring really changed much at all, but instead some locals might say it made matters worse.

The Arab Spring created an ideology that saw the people rise against their government, but it also caused an emergence of a new evil, preaching a new dictatorship, and shedding blood along its way.

Post-Arab Spring the people of Syria were given a choice, either pledge elegance to the Islamic state or flee.

On the one hand, the choice was seen in two ways: be forced into Islamic fundamentalism and oppression with violent extremism, or if they stay, the old Syria would remain unchanged, and they might be forced between fighting their neighbours and friends over minute differences. Naturally, many Syrians have chosen to flee, seeking refuge.

The displacement of millions of Syrian refugees forced to flee their homes has caused an international world crisis, post Arab Spring. Many refugees have left everything they know seeking refuge in fear of Islamic State an in search of a better life, a life of freedom and democracy, and freedom from the heavy chains of tyranny.

It's sufficient to say that throughout all the chaos, the Arab people have suffered the most, with many saying the Syrian people have been the most worse off since the Arab Spring uprising, making it much harder to still call it a revolution. 

The mass exodus of Syrian refugees has been marked the biggest human catastrophic incident since world war two.

The ideology of the Arab Spring may have started as a means for freedom from oppression, searching for peace and equality but the question still remains, was the Arab Spring merely just an idea?