Much of the current violence in the Arab World is a mixture of a societal frustration with seemingly outdated governmental structures and the never ending struggle for dominance between factions, whether they be political or religious. The Arab World as a whole is now being faced with a situation that their forefathers might never have anticipated: an aware populace. Authoritarian regimes are best applied in close knit communities with little influence from outside set constructs; the modern Arab World is no such thing. The most recent government to show signs of resistance to change is that of Yemen. The people seem to want everything but the current regime, and rightfully so. The Saleh government has been in place since the 1970s (as head of Northern Yemen until 1990 and then the head of a unified Yemen after 1990) and seems to be making decisions that affect the current populace with the same mindset as they did then. As the world changes, it behooves regimes to lend an ear to those with whose care they are entrusted and make changes to benefit the people, rather then only the rulers. The intense violence in Yemen is another reminder of why very little if any inevitably comes from authoritarian rule. People will become disillusioned with the glass ceilings of the Arab World, and if governments are not willing to adapt, that ceiling will shatter and the likelihood that it will be replaced with a more sustainable option is low. A highly volatile Arab World is a hazard to the international community at large, as much as it is to itself. The positive thing the current governments have to offer is experience, meaning they have been through the process of setting up a government and know basic procedures for creating a positive social and economic environment, because at one time, these were the individuals the people liked and supported. So what went wrong?? All things have a shelf life, and it seems that the governments of Arab World are showing their age. Reticence to let go of power yields high levels of violence in which everyone loses.
The role of the tribal system, long the staple of Middle Eastern politics, is new to western states which have a clear hierarchy of power and governance. The conflict in Yemen started as a democratic protest but, with the involvement of the Hashid Tribal Federation in recent weeks, it has escalated into a power struggle between the government and one of the largest tribal networks in the country (the other being the Bakil tribe). This conflict is unique because in most Middle Eastern countries, tribal affiliation trumps all except for Islamic Law, and most tribes have their own justice system to interpret Islamic Law, but in this case Saleh is part of the very Hashid tribe which is fighting against him. The outcome of this conflict may not have the implications that the west has hoped for. If Saleh retains power he will have given a blow to the entire tribal system by showing it is not above the state, but if the Hashid tribe comes out on top it would have solidified the role of the tribe as a major authority in the Middle East. The initial role of the hope of democracy has diminished into the shadows of a conflict that will have repercussions throughout the cultural heritage throughout the region.
