Arab Spring enters the Winter Wait as first anniversary commemorated

On 17 December 2010, a vegetable seller in Sidi Bizoud, central Tunisia, set himself on fire in protest against an insult by a policeperson and the confiscation of his merchandise. The act sparked protests in Tunisia and spread to the rest of the region in a wildfire of unrest. The protests have led to political changes across the region. In many areas the changes have been pronounced, such as Libya, where a new political system is in the process of being created while in other areas like Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen political transitions are ongoing and leadership change is imminent. As the MENA region enters 2012 questions will persist over state's where change has not occurred. Bahrain, Algeria, Syria and Iran are all simmering in one degree or another and political unrest appears one spark away. It will be an interesting period for MENA watchers.