The year ushered in a wave of human activity that awakened the power of the citizens to speak out against conditions in their country and actively protest against their governments.North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula experienced the highest levels of protests and insurgency. Political leaders that had been in power for extended periods were challenged and removed from office.Democratic reforms were requested or demanded by citizens seeking more individual freedom and greater access to political power.Uprisings in some of the countries were internal; other countries received external support or intervention.Protests emerged in North Africa in the beginning of 2011.Tunisia was the first country in which leadership felt the heat of civil resistance and open revolution.In January, the Tunisian president of more than twenty-three years was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia. In Egypt, millions of protesters demonstrated in the streets against political corruption and the lack of reforms.