The Arab Spring ten years on: Tunisia
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 14 January 2021
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In late 2010, Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire, sparking waves of anti-government protests. Within weeks, the Tunisian president had fled the country, and protests rippled across the Middle East leading to riots, civil unrest and insurgencies. A decade later, we reflect on how the uprisings have reshaped the Arab world—starting in Tunisia, the place where it all began.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Guests:
Layli Foroudi, freelance journalist and contributor to The Times.
Zied Bouazizi, cousin of the street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi.
Clips used: Nawaat, CNN, Al Jazeera, Channel 4 News.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Cyber threats are impacting virtually every organization at an unprecedented rate. |
| 0:06.0 | That's why tens of thousands of customers trust Palo Alto networks, the global leader in cyber security. |
| 0:13.0 | Our groundbreaking comprehensive products simplify security |
| 0:17.0 | so you can focus on what you do best, your business. |
| 0:21.0 | See what world-class cyber security looks like at Palo Alto networks |
| 0:26.2 | dot code. UK slash partner of choice. 10 years ago today on January the 14th 2011 the Tunisian president Zine al-Abbadeen |
| 0:46.2 | Ben Ali fled the country. |
| 0:52.2 | This is what popular uprising looks like. |
| 0:55.0 | After weeks of scenes like these across the country, |
| 1:00.0 | resulting in dozens dead. |
| 1:02.0 | A state of emergency is in place and the entire government has been dismissed. |
| 1:06.0 | Either this is the first Arab revolution of the 21st century, |
| 1:10.0 | or it will be brutally suppressed. |
| 1:13.0 | Ben Ali was the first to fall, |
| 1:18.0 | Ben Ali was the first to fall, |
| 1:21.0 | unleashing a tidal wave that swept across the Middle East, toppling tyrants and rulers |
| 1:27.3 | who had an iron grip on power for decades. |
| 1:31.3 | It was the Vanguard of a revolution. But what's happened to Tunisia in the decade that's followed? |
| 1:37.0 | It's the only country where democracy really took root, but at what price? |
| 1:43.0 | When they revolt, they hope that their life will change for better yet. |
| 1:47.0 | But after 10 years, things they are getting worse and worse than even before the revolution. |
| 1:54.1 | How did all of that hope turn to disillusionment? |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Times, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Times and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.