Question map
Which one among the following countries initiated the process of Fourth Wave of Democratic transition ?
Explanation
The 'Fourth Wave' of democratization is a theoretical extension of Samuel Huntington's 'Third Wave' framework, often used by scholars to describe the Arab Spring uprisings that began in late 2010. Tunisia is widely recognized as the country that initiated this process following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, which triggered mass social protests for democratization and justice. These protests led to the collapse of the long-standing authoritarian regime of President Ben Ali in January 2011, serving as the 'early adopter' and launching a wave of regional revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While other countries like Libya, Egypt, and Morocco experienced significant unrest or reforms, Tunisia's revolution is credited with starting the wave and is frequently cited as the most successful instance of democratic transition during this period.