In 2010, a small town in Tunisia became the epicenter of an unexpected wave of pro-democracy protests that shook the Arab world. Widespread grievances with high unemployment rates, corruption, and unyielding autocratic governments eventually led to the Arab Spring in various countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and the world took notice. Long-serving autocratic leaders were ousted in a handful of countries, and it seemed as if meaningful change was on the horizon. Despite the initial optimism, there have been few positive developments to come out of the Arab Spring.
