Syria and Egypt were recently shaken by the revolutions. People, in both of these nations, demonstrated against their governments and their resentment disrupted in the most atrocious way. This paper discusses Syrian and Egyptian revolutions and further examines effects of these revolutions along with discussing how these two revolutions were different.
Egyptian revolution was a peaceful revolution. Some violent incidents took place during the protests in Egypt, but by and large, the whole movement was peaceful. Protestors, as well as the government, both hesitated from using violence. When protests escalated and Hosni Mubarak realized that he does not enjoy support of Egyptians any more, he stepped down. He also failed in getting support from anywhere else which compelled him. He was left with no other option except to surrender before the protestors who were adamant and angrily demonstrating at Tahrir square (el-Nawawy and Khamis).
On the contrary, the revolution of Syria was violent. Bashar Al Assad, as well as protestors used violence in course of countering each other. Government tried to smash the protestors by using military power while protestors used guns and other deadly weapons in order to counter the government. This became an important factor and both the parties were adamant and were not ready to compromise. Violence used by people gave government a chance to use army in oppressing the voice of protestors.
When Egyptians started to protest, they were adamant to remove Hosni Mubarak. Protestors never compromised with their stand and kept protesting with their demand to remove Hosni which they achieved at the end of their protests. Egyptians were very clear in their demand and they never negotiated on anything else except removing Hosni. On the other hand Syrians were demanding freedom at the beginning of their protests. Syrian protestors did not demand for ousting of Basher Assad when they started their protests but wanted freedom which was not accepted and was dealt with force (Al-Monitor).
Egyptian revolution was like a total war against the Hosni, whole of Egypt was together in protesting against his rule. Muslim brotherhood connected people from whole Egypt and all of them waged a war against Hosni to remove him. They were united and adamant while protesting against him. They were not confused and divided like Syrians who initially demanded freedom and demanded Assad’s ouster at later stage. All Syrians did not support these protestors and their uprising was kind of divided.
Syrian society is different from Egyptian society and is divided into different fractions. Kurds, Assyrians, Shiites, Armenians, Circassians, Sunnis, Arabs, Christians, are major constituents of Syrian society. Some fractions of society considered that if this regime is down, there will be uncertainty and situation may worsen in future. All fractions of the Egyptian society did not support the revolution and protestors. Egyptian protestors gained overwhelming support from every part of the Egypt but the same was not witnessed in Syrian revolution (Agathangelou and Soguk).
Syria is different from Egypt. Bashar Al Assad is an autocratic ruler who does not believe in tolerating any kind of opposition. Syria is ruled by the Bath party that is led by Assad. Bath party is not a democratic organization, and niether respect nor recognize any human rights. When revolution staretd in syria, Assad did not take a moment in decidng a stern action against protestors. He was very adament and brutal towards protestors and data show that more than one hundred thousand protestors were killed on Assad’s instructions in course of suppressing the revolutionc in syria.
Egyptian protestors were fortunate and their timing of protest was very well calculated. When they started protesting at Tahrir square, Egyptian army was busy and involved in its own affairs. Supreme council of armed forces (SCAF) was busy in handling its own issues. They could neither pay much attention on the protestors nor did they anticipate even remotely that the protest can turn in such a huge revolution. There was a clear gap for the protestors and they took advantage without any delay.
When Syrian protestors started their protests, they demanded freedom which alerted Assad and he took all precautionary measures at initial level. Syrian Military was put at high alert and forces did not give protestors a chance to unite and organize their movement. When protestors started using violence in their protests, forces were given full authority to deal with protestors in a strict manner. Organized, alert and prepared forces crushed protestors and revolution was smashed.
Egyptian revolution was different from Syrian revolution and the same was reflected when Egyptian protestors succeeded in removing Hosni Mubarak. Hosni tried all his tantrums but was not succeeded. He failed in getting any substantial support from inside the Egypt and outside the Egypt. Hosni even was criticized at international forums and human rights activists from all over the world started making pressure on Hosni for suppressing human rights in Egypt and stepping down.
On the contrary, when protestors started protesting in Syria, Assad was supported by several groups from different sects of the society. Groups like Al Qaeda supported Assad against supporters and fought with them. Jihadists fought against protestors along with military and police. Assad gained support from neighboring countries while suppressing the protestors and their revolution. International powers refused to intervene in Syrian state of affairs at initial levels.
When revolution started in Egypt along with different other countries of Arabian region, it brought some significant changes. Hosni Mubarak stepped down and other countries also witnessed changes. This situation alerted Bashar Al Assad and taught him a lesson. Assad, instead of surrendering, decided to suppress the protestors this way or that way since it was the question of his existence. Assad tackled this revolution with force and he did not take anything in a lightly manner.
After having observed the above mentioned succinct view of both Syrian and Egyptian revolutions, it can be concluded that there were more than a few differences in revolutions of both the nations. Egyptian revolution compelled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to step down but Syrian protestors could not succeed in their goal of removing Bashar al Assad. Their remonstration was defeated and there were several factors that were responsible for it. Both revolutions are different in a number of ways and the same was reflected by their outcomes.
Works Cited
A. M Agathangelou and N. Soguk. Arab Revolutions and World Transformations. New York: Routledge, 2013.
"Al-Monitor." 13 April 2012. al-monitor. 4 December 2013 <http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2013/09/freedom-or-downfall-of-the-syrian-regime.html#>.
M. el-Nawawy and S. Khamis. Egyptian Revolution 2.0: Political Blogging, Civic Engagement, and Citizen Journalism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
