7. Revolution and repression in the Middle-East - Joseph Daher

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Outline

Intro The revolutionary processes in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) have shaken the world since their beginning in the end of 2010 and early 2011 and above all for all those who resist and struggle throughout the world. The popular movements that shook the dictatorships of the Middle East and North Africa, have had a worldwide impact. The occupy movement or the Spanish indignados throughout the world draw their inspiration from these revolutionary processes.. More than 700 cities in over 70 countries echoed the slogans and demands of a movement that protests against precariousness and the power of finance. But the occupy movement represent above all a challenge and a clear condemnation of the capitalist system. The masses of the MENA have revived resistance worldwide; we have entered a period of revolutionary process, that although is currently undergoing difficult times as we will see is nevertheless not dead.

The revolutions in the MENA are the product of the meeting of different struggles and popular mobilizations. These fights are intertwined and allowed different sectors of society to join forces to revolt against authoritarian and capitalist regimes linked to various imperialist and sub imperialist interests.

1) - Structural roots of MENA revolutionary processes

- narratives of the revolutionary processes dominated by liberal understanding

- Absence of democracy, authoritarian regimes

- Absence of social justice, neo liberal policies

- Imperialist system and domination of the region


2)- Reactionary counter offensive - ancient regimes and Islamic fundamentalist forces The two major forces, which have distinguished themselves and have dominated for some time the political scene in the region, are the representatives of the former authoritarian regimes on one side and the (Sunni and Shi’a) Islamic fundamentalist and reactionary forces in its various components from the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah to the Jihadists on the other side. These forces are of course not completely similar and major differences exist between them, but they share a common counter revolutionary position against the popular movements and the objectives of the revolution

- Interventions of Imperialist and sub imperialist forces The MENA revolutionary processes have definitely challenged and messed up the capitalist and imperialist status quo in the region, especially regarding the various imperialist and sub imperialist forces and their allies. These popular movements are indeed a threat to their political and economic interests.

The various imperialists and sub imperialist forces have nevertheless reacted fairly quickly, but in different ways, after the fall of dictators in Tunisia and Egypt:

- Direct and indirect military interventions - Bahrain - Libya - Iraq military intervention of the international coalition following the take over of Mosoul, and of Iran in the assistance to Shi’a sectarian militias - Syria, military interventions on the side of the regime (Russia, Iran and Hezbollah and other Shi’a sectarian militias) and the side of the Islamic reactionary forces (Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia), international coalition - Yemen, - Turkey, Syria and Kurdistan

- political and financial support to various counter revolutionary forces

- sectarianism as a tool of counter revolutionary forces

- “Yemeni solution”, change the head but maintain the regimes with cosmetic changes, USA preferred solutions in various countries

3) - Role of the left and revolutionaries in these movements

- role of the various progressive movements in the revolutionary processes

- Duty of the left in the MENA region:

1) build a third progressive and democratic front independent from the counter revolutionary forces, in this perspective create a new form of hegemony

2) no solution in the region on a national level. Create links between various progressive movements

3) Links with labour migrant workers in the Gulf region especially

- Role of the left internationally

1) migrant issue in Europe

2) islamophobia and racism

3) cooperation of western states with authoritarian regimes and Israel

4) oppose security and liberticide policies

Reading materials