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Rose, Orange, and Tulip Revolutions?... Garden Party or Uprising?

Garden Party or Uprising?

How'd the Jasmine Revolution get its name? And how about the  Rose, Orange, and Tulip Revolutions?

By Jeremy Singer-Vine
Pundits are calling the mass demonstrations in Tunisia the Jasmine Revolution. In the last decade, we've had Rose (Georgia), Orange (Ukraine), Tulip (Kyrgyzstan), and Green (Iran) revolutions, among others. Why have so many recent uprisings been named after flowers or colors?

Branding. We used to refer to major revolutions by country: the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution. Today's more fanciful names can be traced back to the Czech Velvet Revolution of 1989, a nonviolent (velvety-gentle) uprising that led to the overthrow of the Communist government. When the Georgians revolted in November 2003, forcing president Eduard Shevardnadze from power, the opposition leaders looked for an equally catchy name that might help their similarly peaceful movement. Initially, they copied the Czechs wholesale and called it the Velvet Revolution. After a week or so, they switched to the
Revolution of the Roses, a reference to the flowers student protesters had given to soldiers and to the rose that opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili carried into parliament, where he demanded Shevardnadze's resignation. By mid-December, the media had settled on the more mellifluous Rose Revolution.

Realizing that the Czechs and the Georgians were onto something, opposition leaders in other former Soviet states followed suit. When the Ukranians began rising-up in 2004, they took meetings with Georgian and American strategists, who stressed the importance of branding. The resulting Orange Revolution drew its name from the campaign color of its leader, Viktor Yushchenko. Kyrgyzstan's 2005 uprising ran through several names, including the Lemon Revolution ("because yellow is a colour of change—like on a traffic light," a youth-movement leader told the Times of London), the Pink Revolution, the Silk Revolution, and the Daffodil Revolution before the press settled on the Tulip Revolution. All of these monikers were intentional nods to the Rose and Orange uprisings, although—unlike these predecessors—they lacked clear referents.

Political scientists joke that the "color revolutions" are neither: They're more like "unplanned transitions" and rose, orange, and tulip could just as easily refer to fruits or flowers. Serbia's Bulldozer Revolution of 2000 is sometimes called a color revolution, despite its name, because of its similarities to the Georgian, Ukrainian, and Kyrgyz movements it influenced. Portugal's Carnation Revolution of 1974 is generally not grouped in with the other cutely named uprisings—despite the fact that carnation is both a flower and a color—because Portugal was never under Soviet control.

In any case, the Rose, Orange, and Tulip Revolutions unleashed a rainbow of imitators. In early 2005, Kuwati suffragettes started what some called the Blue Revolution. Around the same time, the assassination of Lebanon's prime minister triggered a Cedar Revolution. Even President George W. Bush jumped on the bandwagon when he tried to market Saddam Hussein's overthrow as the Purple Revolution (after the ink used to prevent fraudulent voting in the 2005 Iraqi elections). Belarusian protests in 2006 were dubbed, by turns, the Jeans Revolution the Denim Revolution and the Cornflower Revolution. In 2007, the press called the anti-government demonstrations in Burma the Saffron Revolution. In 2009, Mir-Hossein Mousavi's followers adopted his campaign color for Iran's Green Revolution.

Getting back to Tunisia: Who thought up the name Jasmine Revolution? A blogger, it seems. Zied El Hani, who is also a journalist at the Tunisian newspaper Essahafa, claims he coined it in a blog post published on Jan. 13, the day before President Ben Ali fled the country. Jasmine is Tunisia's national flower. In Tunis, the capital, markets and boulevards teem with vendors selling machmoum, stick-like bouquets of the flower.

Explainer thanks Lincoln A. Mitchell of Columbia University and Kenneth J. Perkins of the University of South Carolina.

North Korea: 'US has now gone seriously mad'

US strike group to arrive off Korean peninsula in days amid concerns the North is ramping up for a sixth nuclear test.

North Korea reiterated its vow to launch "full-out war" with nuclear weapons on Saturday as an American naval strike carrier was set to arrive off the tense Korean peninsula in a matter of days.

Tensions between the United States and the North have soared in recent Donald Trump's administration about curtailing its nuclear weapons programme.

The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, American Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday, after days of mixed messages from Washington over the warship's whereabouts.    

The strike group was supposedly steaming towards North Korea last week amid concerns the North is ramping up for a sixth nuclear test, with Pyongyang threatening to hit back at any provocation.    

But the US Navy - which had earlier said the aircraft carrier would sail north from waters off Singapore as a "prudent measure" to deter North Korea, admitted on Tuesday the ships were in fact sent away from Singapore and towards Australia to conduct drills with the Australian navy.

UN calls for calm over US-North Korea tensions

The aircraft carrier will arrive "in a matter of days", said Pence after the location of the naval strike group became contentious.

US officials have repeatedly warned "all options are on the table" - including military strikes - to curb the North's nuclear ambitions.

North Korea remained defiant in the face of the American show of force.

"Now that we possess mighty nuclear power to protect ourselves from US nuclear threat, we will respond without the slightest hesitation to full-out war with full-out war and to nuclear war with our style of nuclear strike, and we will emerge victor in the final battle with the United States," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The North will celebrate the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday and has marked important events in the past by launching missiles or conducting nuclear tests.

Tuesday's anniversary also comes as the North finishes winter military drills and as South Korea and the United States wrap up annual joint military exercises.  

The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Saturday in a commentary that North Korea wouldn't hesitate to launch a pre-emptive strike if provoked.

Pence warns North Korea 'era of strategic patience is over'

"The US has now gone seriously mad. It is mulling frightening the DPRK and achieving something with nuclear strategic bombers, nuclear carriers, etc. However, the army and people of the DPRK will never be browbeaten by such bluffing," it said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic Republic of Korea.  

"Under the situation where the US hurts the DPRK by force of arms, we have nothing to be bound to. The DPRK will answer to such war moves and provocations with pre-emptive strike of its own style and a great war of justice for national reunification."

Pence also renewed US calls for Beijing to use its "unique" position to bring Pyongyang to heel.    

"The steps we're seeing China take, in many ways unprecedented steps, bringing economic pressure to bear on North Korea are very welcome," Pence said. "We do believe China can do more."

Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. But the heat has been rising rapidly since Trump took office in January.

United Kingdom country profile

The United Kingdom is a state made up of the historic countries of England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland. It is known as the home of both modern parliamentary democracy and the Industrial Revolution.

Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role in the 20th century, and the 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union has raised significant questions about the country's global role. Nonetheless, the United Kingdom remains an economic and military power with great political and cultural influence around the world.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Capital: London

• Population 62.8 million
• Area 242,514 sq km (93,638 sq miles)
• Major language English
• Major religion Christianity
• Life expectancy 78 years (men), 82 years (women)
• Currency pound sterling

UN, World Bank

The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs.

The twentieth century saw Britain having to redefine its place in the world. At the beginning of the century, it commanded a world-wide empire as the foremost global power.

Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role, but the UK remains an economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world.

Britain was the world's first industrialised country. Its economy remains one of the largest, but it has for many years been based on service industries rather than on manufacturing.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionThe Palace of Westminster is home to one of the world's oldest parliaments

At a glance

• Politics: A centre-right Conservative government took over from a a Conservative coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2015. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have varying degrees of political autonomy.
• Economy: The UK is recovering steadily from a slump that followed the 2008 global financial crisis. London's financial industry is a significant part of the services-based economy
• International: The UK is a key global player diplomatically and militarily. It plays leading roles in the UN and Nato, but voted in 2016 to leave the European Union

The process of deindustrialisation has left behind lasting social problems and pockets of economic weakness in parts of the country.

More recently, the UK has suffered a deep economic slump and high public debt as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, which revealed its over-reliance on easy credit, domestic consumption and rising house prices.

Efforts to rein in the public debt - one of the developed world's highest - has led to deep cuts to welfare, government services and the military, prompting concern about social equality and a possible loss of international influence.

Prime Minister David Cameron, under pressure from the right of his Conservative Party, scheduled a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union for June 2016, which saw a vote to leave. Britain is expected to cease to be a member of the EU by 2019.

In response to growing dissatisfaction with the UK's traditionally highly centralised nature, the London government devolved powers to separate parliaments in Scotland and Wales in 1999.

But this did not stop the centrifugal trend. A nationalist government has been in power in Scotland since 2007. A referendum on independence was held in September 2014, with 55% of voters opting to remain as part of the United Kingdom and 45% favouring independence.

In Northern Ireland, after decades of violent conflict, the Good Friday agreement of 1998 led to a new assembly with devolved powers, bringing hopes of lasting peace.

Multi-nation kingdom

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries, three of which have devolved powers. Voters in a Scottish referendum in 2014 rejected independence, with 55% opting to remain part of the United Kingdom and 45% voting for independence

Diversity

The UK is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of empire. Lately, the country has been struggling with issues revolving around multiculturalism, immigration and national identity.

Concerns about terrorism and Islamist radicalism heightened after the suicide bomb attacks on London's transport network in 2005.

There has also been a debate about immigration. Some advocate tough policies on limiting immigration, others attempt to put the case for it as a positive force.

One of the more recent trends in migration has been the arrival of workers from the new EU member states in Eastern Europe in large numbers, and this played a major role in driving the campaign to leave the European Union in 2016.

Culture

The UK has been a major force in global youth culture since the heyday of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s.

It has a rich literary heritage encompassing the works of English writers such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, Scot Robert Burns, Welshman Dylan Thomas, and Northern Irishman Seamus Heaney.

LEADERS

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1952 upon the death of her father, George VI. In September 2015, she became Britain's longest-reigning monarch, surpassing the record of her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. She is also head of state of 16 independent countries including Canada and Australia.

As a constitutional monarch, her role in the legislative process is largely ceremonial.

Prime minister: Theresa May

Theresa May became prime minister in July 2016 on the resignation of her predecessor and fellow Conservative, David Cameron, in the wake of a referendum vote for Britain to leave the European Union.

Mrs May backed Mr Cameron's support for Britain to remain in the EU, but faces the task of overseeing its exit.

She served as home secretary in both of Mr Cameron's governments, the 2010-2015 Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition and the 2015-2016 Conservative majority administration, acquiring a reputation for combining firmness on security with a relatively liberal stance on social issues.

TIMELINE: Some key dates in British history:

1801 - United Kingdom formed by union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland.

1815 - Role in defeating Napoleon's French Empire leads to Britain becoming pre-eminent imperial power.

1830s - Electoral reform acts begin steady move towards primacy of House of Commons and universal suffrage.

1840s - British industrial power harnessing technological change and boosts free trade and investment worldwide, reaching its peak in the second half of the 19th century.

1880s - Devolved government for Ireland becomes a major political issue, splitting Liberal Party and reviving a violent Irish separatist movement.

1904 - Entente Cordiale with France marks Britain's return to European security treaties.

1906 - Liberal government lays foundations for later welfare state with pensions, work and sickness insurance and the expansion of secondary education.

1914 - Outbreak of First World War. UK enters hostilities against Germany. Gruelling trench warfare in Belgium and France.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Tower Bridge - one of London's iconic structures

• London population: 7.5 million
• Established as Roman settlement in frist century AD

• BBC London Homepage

1918 - War ends in November with armistice. The number of UK war dead runs to several hundred thousand.

1914 - Outbreak of World War I. UK enters hostilities against Germany.

1918 - War ends in November with armistice. The number of UK war dead runs to several hundred thousand.

1921 - UK agrees to the foundation of the Irish Free State. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK.

1924 - First UK government led by the Labour party under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

1939 - Germany invades Poland. UK declares war on Germany.

1940 - Winston Churchill becomes prime minister.

1944 - Allied troops invade France from Britain on D-Day (6th June) and begin to fight their way towards Germany.

1945 - Germany surrenders. Labour leader Clement Atlee is elected prime minister to replace Winston Churchill. The new Labour government introduces the welfare state.

1945 - The UK becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

1948 - National Health Service is established.

1949 - The UK becomes a founder member of Nato.

1953 - Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

A view of LondonImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image caption

London is a major centre for finance and culture

1960s - Decolonisation of former British-controlled territories gathers pace.

1969 - British troops sent to quell unrest in Northern Ireland.

1973 - The UK joins the European Economic Community.

1979 - Conservative Margaret Thatcher begins move towards deregulation of economy.

2017 - Britain formally applies to leave the European Union after a referendum vote the previous year.

Arab Spring: Causes, Goals, Methods and Result

Arab Spring

Date: 17 December 2010 – December 2012
Location: North Africa, Middle East, Arab world

Causes

Authoritarianism
Demographic structural factors
2000s energy crisis
Political corruption
Human rights violations
Inflation
Kleptocracy
Sectarianism
Unemployment
Self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi

Goals

Democracy
Free elections
Economic freedom
Human rights
Employment
Regime change
Freedom of religion

Methods

Civil disobedience
Civil resistance
Defection
Demonstrations
Insurgency
Internet activism
Protest camps
Revolution
Riots
Self-immolation
Silent protests
Sit-ins
Social Media
Strike actions
Urban warfare
Uprising

Result

Tunisia: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ousted, charged, exiled and government overthrown.
Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak ousted, arrested, charged, and government overthrown.
Libya: Leader Muammar Gaddafi killed following a civil war that saw a foreign military intervention, and government overthrown.
Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh ousted, and power handed to a national unity government.
Syria: President Bashar al-Assad faces civil uprising against his rule that deteriorates into armed rebellion and eventual full-scale civil war.
Bahrain: Civil uprising against the government crushed by authorities and Saudi-led intervention.
Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman: Government changes implemented in response to protests.
Morocco and Jordan: Constitutional reforms implemented in response to protests.
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Mauritania, and other Arab countries: Protests

Syria country profile

Once the centre of the Islamic Caliphate, Syria covers an area that has seen invasions and occupations over the ages, from Romans and Mongols to Crusaders and Turks.

A country of fertile plains, high mountains and deserts, it is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia and Arab Sunnis, the last of whom make up a majority of the Muslim population.

Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946, but has lived through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting interests of these various groups.

Since 2011 political power, long held by a small mainly Alawite elite, has been contested in a bitter civil conflict initially sparked by the Arab Spring that turned into a complex war involving regional and international powers.

The Syrian Arab Republic

Capital: Damascus

• Population 21.1 million
• Area 185,180 sq km (71,498 sq miles)
• Major language Arabic
• Major religion Islam, Christianity
• Life expectancy 74 years (men), 78 years (women)
• Currency Syrian pound

UN, World Bank

President: Bashar al-Assad

In power since succeeding his father in 2000, Bashar al-Assad is fighting for control of his country after prThe Syrian uprising has left a fractured media environment, split between areas controlled by the government, Islamic State militants and other armed groups.

Scores of journalists and citizen journalists have been killed since the start of the revolt in 2011.

Syria was the world's deadliest country for journalists in 2014, says Reporters Without Borders. Islamic State jihadists "enforce an information dictatorship" in the areas they control.otests against his rule turned into a full-scale war.

He inherited a tightly controlled and repressive political structure from long-time dictator Hafez al-Assad, with an inner circle dominated by members of the Assad family's minority Alawite Shia community.

But cracks began to appear in early 2011, in the wake of the "Arab Spring" wave of popular dissent that swept across North Africa and the Middle East.

MEDIA

The Syrian uprising has left a fractured media environment, split between areas controlled by the government, Islamic State militants and other armed groups.

Scores of journalists and citizen journalists have been killed since the start of the revolt in 2011.

Syria was the world's deadliest country for journalists in 2014, says Reporters Without Borders. Islamic State jihadists "enforce an information dictatorship" in the areas they control.

TIMELINE

Some key dates in Syria's history:

1918 October - Arab troops led by Emir Feisal, and supported by British forces, capture Damascus, ending 400 years of Ottoman rule.

1920 - San Remo conference splits up newly-created Arab kingdom by placing Syria-Lebanon under a French mandate, and Palestine under British control.

1946 - Independence.

1958-61 - Short-lived union of Syria with Egypt as the United Arab Republic.

1967 - Egypt, Jordan, and Syria are defeated in the Six-Day War with Israel. Israel seizes the Golan Heights.

1970 - Hafez al-Assad comes to power in a coup. His rule is characterised by repression and a major arms build-up.

1973 - Egypt and Syria launch surprise attack on Israel in October to try reverse defeats of 1967.

1976 - Syria intervenes in the Lebanese civil war. It maintains military presence there for next three decades and exerts significant influence on Lebanese politics.

1982 - Muslim Brotherhood uprising in the city of Hama is suppressed in a month-long siege by the military, who kill tens of thousands of civilians.

2000 - President Assad dies and is succeeded by his son Bashar.

2005 - Syrian forces withdraw from Lebanon under international pressure following assassination of Lebanese premier Rafiq al-Hariri.

2011 - Unrest inspired by "Arab Spring" uprisings. Confrontation between government and opposition soon develops into civil war that draws in world powers and triggers refugee crisis.