Lesson

North Africa: Government and Economy

Students learn about the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya before and after the Arab Spring demonstrations in 2010-11. They interpret results of a survey of Arab youth comparing their situation today to that prior to the Arab Spring. They also reflect on the role of social media in protest movements.

Preview the Lesson Back to Southwest Asia and North Africa

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Overview

In this experience, students learn about the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya before and after the Arab Spring demonstrations in 2010-11. They interpret results of a survey of Arab youth comparing their situation today to that prior to the Arab Spring. They also reflect on the role of social media in protest movements.

Students will work through scenes 2 through 4 in small groups.

Objectives:

Identify systems of government in North Africa.
Explain the effects of the Arab Spring on the region’s governments.

Throughout the years 2010-11, a wave of anti-government protests swept across North Africa and the Middle East. The protesters complained about corrupt governments, economic depression, and the lack of personal freedoms. These protests became known as the Arab Spring. In this experience, you will focus on events in three North African countries: Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.

Objectives:

Identify systems of government in North Africa.
Explain the effects of the Arab Spring on the region’s governments.

Using a single word or short phrase, name at least one thing that you can do with social media. If you want to list more than one, separate them with a comma, like this: bake a cake, ride a bike.

Post your answer

Once students have had time to review one another’s posts to the word cloud, say: Pro-democracy movements swept across regions of the Middle East and North Africa in 2010 and 2011. This trend was named the “Arab Spring.” Can anyone make a guess about how social media is connected to the Arab Spring?

Accept any answers that students offer, and tell them that they will learn the answer via the experience.

Divide students into their small groups. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

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