Popular unrest has forced Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to leave the country. The uprising marks the first time that an Arab leader has been forced from office by the people. Other regional leaders — and their long-suffering publics — are now asking whether a Jasmine Revolution is in their future. Decades of experience with repression means a tidal wave is unlikely, but tinder is present throughout the region.
Mr. Ben Ali ruled Tunisia for 23 years, after taking power in a bloodless coup. His government was a benevolent police state that invested in education while having no compunction about torturing the opposition. The country rejected Islamic extremism and was Western in orientation — both secular in outlook and a staunch U.S. ally in the world against terrorism — all of which made it a popular destination for tourists.
But an authoritarian government, a large and growing middle class and an increasingly educated public are a volatile mix. The economy grew an average of 5 percent a year during Mr. Ben Ali's time in office. That is a respectable showing, but it is considerably less than the 8 percent growth needed to absorb the 100,000 college graduates who enter the job market each year. Unemployment is officially 13 percent, but most experts believe the real figure is considerably higher.