Mohammed Bouazizi had had enough. The police had humiliated him. They had confiscated his fruit and vegetable cart. He had nothing left —all because he’d refused to give them a bribe.

On Dec. 17, 2010, the 26-year-old food vendor set himself on fire. Many other young Tunisians identified with his plight. They filled the streets with protests. In less than a month, the corrupt and authoritarian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country. “Arab Spring” had begun.