Although the clashes/protests in Egypt are is not an ideological battle as it was in the late 1980s early 1990s during the end of the Cold War. There are three significant themes that are emerging, which have led up to these events in Egypt. All of which are playing a substantial part in fuelling the anger/frustrations of the general populace in countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Algeria.
1. decline in living standards - high youth unemployment and increase in poverty
2. a substantial increase in commodity prices, which have resulted in high food prices, which has not been match by wage increases (hence the above). Notice last year a sharp increase in protest/riots and demonstrations regarding food prices.
3. Add the above with a disaffected population, which has over time become fed-up with their respective ruling governments and you see how the situation has come about.
Also the events in Tunisia over the past month have provided the catalyst for the people throughout the Middle East to begin to challenge their governments rule over them.
Notice also that you have seen protests in Yemen and Jordan, which have had autocratic/one party rule for substantial length of time.
You could go so far as to say it is Globalisation 3.0, especially when you take into account the protests in Burma/Myanmar and in Latin America most notably in Venezuela.
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