Abstract

In 2010, the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, not only caused mass protests in Tunisia but had a region-wide spillover effect by aggravating grievances derived from poverty, corruption, clientelism, and repression in the Arab world. By providing a platform for citizens’ demands and fostering their mobilization and empowerment, social media acted as a catalyst for social change. The Arab Spring protests eventually transformed the political trajectory of the Middle East and North Africa. In North Africa, while Morocco remained relatively stable due to the popularity of the monarchy and the reforms undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the eruption of protests in Tunisia (Mohsin and Milbert, 2013), dictators were ousted in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Initially, especially with Tunisia’s smooth political transition, the Arab Spring seemed to be a potential for the democratization of the North African region. However, the hopes of Arab Spring were soon dashed.