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The Tunisian revolution worked because the system was overloaded with protests in almost every single region of the country. Contrary to previous localized prot
by Raed667 6y ago
The Tunisian revolution worked because the system was overloaded with protests in almost every single region of the country. Contrary to previous localized protests in 2008, that were more contained and effectively suppressed by the regime.
But it is also worth to remember that unarmed protestors rarely "just" overrun the barricades and enter the palace (figuratively). Someone with power (police or military) has to decide that they're OK with letting the protests go through, that is the signal of the end.
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Obviously my opinion, but I was in Tunis, Tunisia during those times.
- csomar 6y agoThe Tunisian Army was impartial (still largely impartial to these days) and would not intervene. They did protect some government buildings so nobody really overrun the palace. What happened is that support for the old dictator become too low and most of his supporters decided to bail on him (many people hates him too).
- Raed667 6y agoThe Tunisian army was mostly impartial, but there were instances where they actively protected protestors from the police (which gained them a lot of good faith). And there was this rumor that Ben Ali and his close family were "tricked" by the palace guard and the military to leave the country "temporarily" because protestors were going to be closing in (which never happened). But that is exactly my point, supporters in key power positions decided that it was too much trouble to keep Ben Ali around.
- pjc50 6y agoOne of the oddest bits of recent American news was seeing armed protestors occupy a capitol building .. and then leave again, with no shots fired by either side.