2011

Certain years stand out in the annals of history, marked by landmark events. They include the fall of Rome in 410, 1848’s ‘Year of Revolution’, and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in 1989 that heralded the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 2011 is already being hailed, by commentators across the globe, as a defining year in human history.

Regimes were toppled throughout the Arab world, natural disasters struck Japan, Thailand and America, whilst the financial crisis in Europe has put the Euro on the brink of collapse. Another ‘Year of Revolution’ perhaps, but much more besides. As we move forwards into 2012, what are the implications and potential consequences of the highly eventful 2011?

The New Year will see much of Northern Africa and the Middle East attempting to deal with the upheaval that has affected the region. Rioting and violence persists in Egypt and Libya even though Mubarak and Gaddafi have fallen from power.

Whether elections can be held and new governments installed with the blessing of the populace remains to be seen – the Egyptian military’s heavy handedness was not the change the people of Egypt were looking for. Protests have continued in other Arab countries where the incumbent government has shown little or no sign of stepping down or loosening their grip on power.

Syria grabbed most of the headlines following President al-Assad’s ruthless crackdowns on popular demonstrations. The arrival of monitors from the Arab League was hoped to bring about a more peaceful way forward but reports from the country suggest a turn for the worse. Should the situation for Syrians fail to improve, could 2012 witness further Western involvement in the region after 2011’s NATO airstrikes on Libya?

Although the plight of civilians in several Arab countries has not been assuaged, the overthrown rulers of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya were faced with a powerful weapon in 2011: social media. Twitter and Facebook came to the fore as mass demonstrations and protests could be organised and publicised with a few clicks.

The power of social media was not only felt in the Middle East either. The Occupy movement made its presence felt in over 80 countries as camps were set up in public spaces to protest against social and economic injustices. Whilst the movement garnered a good amount of support initially, it has lacked the overwhelming nationwide demand for change that was at the heart of the ‘Arab Spring’. Calls for a 'Robin Hood Tax' have largely fallen on deaf ears as many of the world’s governments became embroiled in dealing with other financial problems.

In Europe, concerns over economic inequality have been overshadowed by economic instability. The huge amount of debt accumulated by Southern European countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece along with other members of the Euro has put the currency, not to mention those countries themselves, on the brink. Although complete disaster has been so far averted, the outlook for the eurozone is grim and 2012 looks set to be a year of further recession. This  will probably lead to further protests as unemployment levels rise, and the possibility of countries dropping out of the euro.

Britain too has not been without economic strife. However, the country has also faced issues concerning the media following the furore surrounding court injunctions to gag the press as well as closure of the News of the World amidst the phone hacking scandal. The Leveson Inquiry still rumbles on in the scandal’s wake, leaving major question marks over where the boundaries of privacy, public interest and freedom of speech lie.

The results of the inquiry will certainly make for interesting reading. Whilst many of the incidents of 2011 had human causes, natural disasters were also prevalent throughout the year. Japan provided the world with one of the greatest examples of stoicism following the earthquake and consequent tsunami that hit the nation in March. The rebuilding of a large swath of eastern Japan will take time but the country’s united response to such suffering was remarkable.

As the year wore on, central USA was hit by an incredible number of tornadoes before Thailand and the Philippines experienced extensive flooding. Humans may have harnessed the world in some respects, but in spite of daily technological advances there is often little that we can do in the face of the powerful forces of nature.

Much of 2011 was filled with news that was sobering in the extreme. However, the marriage of Prince William to Katherine Middleton provided a light relief. The wedding was watched by millions across the globe, desperate to see the famous dress. The image of the couple that day could also prove to be very important for the monarchy in the long run. With Prince Charles edging closer to the throne by the day, it is reassuring to see that his widely adored son is not of the same mould. Whilst it provoked the country’s republicans, the royal wedding certainly served to rekindle a certain fondness for the royal family across much of Britain. Was 2011 the year that Sarah Burton saved the House of Windsor?

Prince William may have a while to wait until he can sit upon the throne, but the so called ‘princelings’ of the Chinese Communist Party are coming to the fore imminently, as Hu Jintao prepares to take a backseat. They will have to deal with stuttering growth and a potential trade deficit, not to mention trying to remedy the large gap in wealth between the urban and rural populace. Should the Chinese suffer an economic collapse, the effects would be felt around the globe.

Their small neighbours also have the potential to grab the world’s attention, if for very different reasons. The death of ‘Dear Leader’ in North Korea, as 2011 drew to a close, saw the poor but military focused state welcome Kim Jong-un to the helm (after the melodramatic keening that followed his father’s death). The question that surrounds the issue is whether a dictator with a penchant for shelling South Korea is concealed behind the baby face of the new supreme ruler.

As with the end of every calendar year, the list of obituaries contains several high profile individuals, ranging from Amy Winehouse to Osama bin Laden - finally tracked down to a compound in Pakistan. Perhaps most mourned of all those who died in 2011 was the head of Apple, Steve Jobs. As the Onion, that preserve of serious, intellectual news, commented, the “last American who knew what the **** he was doing dies”.

His visionary ideas and ability to execute them effectively were applauded around the world. The coming year will be a telling indicator as to whether Apple can continue in such a successful vein without him.

2012 will undoubtedly be a year of further hardship for many (protests and demonstrations will surely abound) but it will hopefully be a year of rebuilding too, one that involves the piecing back together of countries, economies, and settlements. But even if that fails to come about and 2012 looks depressing in the extreme. At least, we still have the Olympics to look forward to.