On the 20th October this year, we witnessed the ultimate demise of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Leader of Libya since 1969 who had led a Coup D'etat which deposed the Libyan King and installed Gaddafi as the autocratic leader of the 'Revolutionary Council' of Libya. Gaddafi's death marked the symbolic victory of the Libyan Rebels after the National Transitional Council officially took over power in September. This also marks the end of one of the bloodiest uprisings during 2011's Arab Spring.

 

The 'Arab Spring' started, oddly enough, in December 2010 with protests in Tunisia and Algeria, and these protests soon spread to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain and Syria throughout January, February and March 2011. These protests and uprisings demanded political reform in their respective countries and, in the specific cases of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen, the resignation of autocratic leaders/dictators.

 

So what happens next for the 'Arab Spring', now that winter sets in?

 

Libya seems to have resolved its problems, but the big question lies in whether the various groups which make up the anti-Gaddafi coalition can co-operate and help to form a democratic system in Libya. The National Transitional Council has guaranteed democratic elections within two years in Libya, but there are already tensions between alienated former Gaddafi ministers and the Islamists.

 

In Tunisia, it would appear that things have also been resolved, as President Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, thus ending his twenty-three years in power. Currently, the former Prime Minister under President Ben Ali tendered his resignation, Ben Ali's party, which had been in power for twenty-three years was dissolved, and a new President and Prime Minister were appointed, and a new Government made up of opposition members installed. The new interim President was appointed in February and, on 23^rd October, elections were held to form the new Tunisian Government and Parliament. The results gave the Islamist Ennahda Party 89 out of 217 seats in Parliament, and the ability to form a new Government. It is believed that they will form a coalition with the second placed party, the Liberal Congress for the Republc. Turnout was at 54% of a potential 7.5 million electorate, and the new Parliament that has been elected will also write the new Constitution of Tunisia.

 

The Egyptian revolution began in January and, after eighteen days of protests, President Mubarak, who had been in power for thirty years, resigned and gave all power to the Egyptian Military. The military immediately dissolved Parliament, the Constitution, and promised to end the country's thirty year 'Emergency Laws', but a civilian was appointed as Prime Minister. As of yet, elections have not occurred, and protests continue in response to the Military Council's lack of progress in reforming Egypt.

 

In Syria, protests started in late January and called for political reform, the re-instatement of Civil Rights, and the end to the State of Emergency which has been in place since 1963. Protesters are focussing their anger towards Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, who has been in power since 2000 after winning two uncontested elections in 2000 and 2007, and assuming power after the death of his father, Hafez, who was President for twenty-nine years. So far, the Assad regime as refused to negotiate or instigate reform and has cracked down very hard on protesters, with many being killed by security forces, and even evidence that children have been tortured after writing anti-Assad graffiti.

 

It seems that, on the whole, the uprisings of the 'Arab Spring' have had mixed success, but hope and popular support seems to still run high in those countries which have not forced reform. For Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, who have been successful in their protests and revolutions, the hardest part is yet to come. Despite being united against a particular leader or dictator, those involved in protests and revolutions have now to ensure that they co-operate with each other in order to establish democratic systems and consensus, otherwise these nations could erupt into Civil War which could destroy any progress made over the past year.

 

This is the true test of a people's struggle: how they deal after their common enemy is gone.