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A small group of women in Saudi Arabia demonstrated in the streets recently, protesting the incarceration of several people they claim have been wrongly accused of being militants.
Reports indicate that there were only a few dozen women present at an organized protest against the arrest of several people that they claim have been wrongly identified as being connected to various militant groups. And while the protest was peaceful and small, any such act of defiance - especially by women - is extremely rare in Saudi Arabia. The prevailing wisdom is that the wave of social activism and unrest that is washing through the Middle East will meet its greatest resistance in countries like Saudi Arabia. The fact that such demonstrations are already taking place there speaks to the depth of the problems being faced by autocratic regimes in the Arab world.
The systems of control that are in place throughout the Middle East are ancient, even if the current ruling regimes have only been in place for decades. With such a close adherence to the religious principals of Islam and a social structure that keeps power in the hands of only a few decision makers, many Middle Eastern countries maintain a fairly stable control over their populations.
All of that appears to be on the verge of change, however, as demonstrations have already ousted one government in Tunisia and Egypt's government is on the verge of ceding its control. There are a few recent developments that have set the stage for these types of protests and organized resistance to the status quo. Interestingly, perhaps the most important pieces of the puzzle have been Facebook and Twitter, along with other social networking sites that have connected large groups of people in ways never before possible. As people begin to share thoughts and ideas more freely, it becomes apparent that they have far more in common than they may have previously realized.
By uniting and coordinating themselves into a clear and cohesive voice for change, large numbers of people can mostly-peacefully bring about sweeping changes. The most clear calls seem to be for better, less-corrupt governance. The changes that have started in the Middle East are only the beginning and they come with much uncertainty and fear - but also with a strong undercurrent of hope for better times ahead.
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 2/8/2011
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