Time magazine’s Person of the Year title is awarded to a person, group, or idea that “for better or for worse …has done the most to influence the events of the year.” This year, Time chose for its Person of the Year, “The Protester.”
The award focuses on the influence, rather than positiveness (or lack thereof) of the candidate. Past recipients have included not just great humanitarians, but those of questionable morals as well.
With this, “The Protestor” is the ideal candidate. “The Protestor” represents a collective group of individuals who stand up against a governing system. The year 2011 featured a slew of uprisings by the masses and overthrows of a few governments as well. Civilian uprisings occurred in The Middle East, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, London, various Asian countries, and the Americas. In these regions, over 25 cases of riots erupted.
A key tool in the series of protests is the internet. Through various social networks and communication techniques in the modern day, organizing uprisings became much easier. News of riots appeared all over news networks, as well as Twitter and Facebook. People in underdeveloped nations found that underground access to networks and interviews were conducted by online communities. The protestors spread their influence even amongst each other.
The main difference among the protestors throughout the year, and around the globe, was their purpose. Oppressed nations fought to overthrow government, countries like London wanted to spread awareness of their lack of freedom, and Americans held Occupy movements to fight the maldistribution of wealth. Some probably did it for the attention, and some to follow the trend. They found varying degrees of success – some were praised, others criticized. But the ultimate result they all had in common is found in their influence spread of awareness. They got the media and the government’s attention, and at the end of the year, Time magazine’s attention.
