The Arab Revolution has indeed been made up of mostly Arab protestors, but certainly not all. Let's explore the situation more closely.
Statistically the Maghreb is considered almost completely Arab. This is primarily because many of its inhabitants speak Arabic, however the people themselves are not. The population of Algeria is mostly Berber, some speak their own Berber languages. Many Berbers may use the Revolution to create independent or autonomous regions within their respective countries. In the area known as the Maghreb, this is not only an Arab Revolution, it's a Berber one as well.
Iran - Very Few Arabs
Strangely, Iran was thrown into the countries of "Arab Revolution". The Arab population of Iran sits at a very low 3%. The major ethnic group is Persian at 51%, while Azeri account for a quarter of the population. In Iran, the only kind of Revolution that won't be happening is an "Arab Revolution"
Other non-Arab groups
The Kurds are a large, but often forgotten ethnic group. They make up over 20 percent of Turkey, inhabit much of the north of Iraq, and can be found in Syria. The Kurds have been disappointed time and time again, never getting an independent state. The only country that could experience a revolution at this time would be Syria. If the string of Revolutions does hit Syria, while it help the Kurds? If so, the Kurds won't regard it as an "Arab Revolution" but a Kurdish one.
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Although largely ungoverned as is, what if the revolutions spread to the far reaches of Islam. Will the media group these nations into the Arab Revolution? Pakistan has many ethnic groups including Punjabi, Pashtun and Sindhi to name a few. Afghanistan is just as diverse. Pashtuns make up 42% but there are significant populations of Uzbeks, Hazara, Tajiks, etc. Notice the scarcity of Arabs in these statistics.
The Arab Revolution - More than Arab
In conclusion, we can see that the Middle East and the "Arab Revolutions" are made up of more than just Arabs. A more appropriate name for these revolts would be "Middle East Revolutions", but media will continue to take the easy way, and simply refer to protesters as Arabs.These revolutions could turn Anti-Arab, especially were some ethnic groups feel that they have be subjugated, such as the Berbers of the Maghreb. Only time will tell what happens with the revolts in the Middle East, not just the Arab World.
Will Harasta - Will Harasta is a Historian without a degree, a sword without a sheath and a book without a bookmark. He lives in both Wudang Monastery, ...
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