Peace building in Yemen: experiences – influences – conditions

On Wednesday, February 15, researchers and politicians engaged in a discussion centered around the book titled “Paths of Dignity: February 11, Dream, Reality, and Consequences,” authored by Yemeni researcher Nabil Al-Bakiri and published by the Mokha Center for Strategic Studies. The discussion took place in a “Twitter space” organized by the Mocha Center and was moderated by journalist Bashir Al-Harthy. Many activists and public opinion leaders attended the event, with prominent guest speakers including Former Deputy Minister of Information and member of the National Dialogue Conference, Fouad Al-Humairi, academic and political researcher Mutaib Baziad, and politician Ali Al-Ahmadi.

During the discussion, Nabil Al-Bakiri provided an overview of the book, which offered a critical perspective on the February 11, 2011 revolution. The book comprises seven chapters that explore the political and economic motives and backgrounds behind the revolution. Al-Bakiri traced the accumulations of three decades of chaos and failure during the rule of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, which were significant factors leading to the outbreak of the February 11 revolution.

The author delved into the outcomes and dependencies of the revolution, as well as the debate surrounding whether it was a popular or partisan revolution led by opposition parties represented by the Joint Meeting Parties against the ruling party regime. He pointed out that one of the key issues contributing to the revolution’s prolonged nature and transformation from a revolutionary path to a political crisis was the organizational framing of the revolutionary action.

Al-Bakiri also highlighted the role of the Yemeni tribe, which played a crucial part in the popular protests, underscoring its influence and societal weight. According to him, the early involvement of the Yemeni tribe demonstrated the extent of the tribe’s political and social awareness.

The book dedicated a chapter to “February and the Dilemma of the Yemeni Political Elite,” focusing on how the Yemeni elite misread the revolution from its outset, with its various ideological orientations and political positions, leading to confusion and concessions at the expense of the revolution.

The discussion further explored the revolution’s regional context, the role of the Gulf initiative, and the position of the Houthi group on the peaceful revolution, examining its contradictions between political and ideological logic.

Participants and researchers praised the content of the book and its critical examination of the events surrounding the February 11 revolution. They commended the efforts of the Mocha Center in publishing the first book documenting and analyzing the revolution from a critical perspective, shedding light on its complexities and societal implications.