The Briefing Room - Middle East Youthquake

A wave of protests are sweeping through Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Retribution in Iraq and Iran has been swift and savage, and hundreds of young people have been killed - but what lies behind the unrest?

David Aaronovitch explores the common themes - unemployment, crony sectarianism, corruption and hopelessness. These were the issues that led countless thousands onto the streets in many middle eastern countries during the Arab Spring ten years ago.

What lessons have governments and protesters learnt since then? The young people are hoping for sustained political and economic change this time. What chance is there of that happening?

CONTRIBUTORS:

Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor

Dr Lena Khatib, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House

Michael Safi, International Correspondent, The Guardian

Pesha Magid, Journalist

Lizzie Porter, Journalist

Producer: Rosamund Jones
Editor: Jasper Corbett

Published on Thursday, 12th December 2019.

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