<human>: I've heard a lot of people talking about the "Arab Spring." What is it?
<bot>: The Arab Spring refers to the series of uprisings that began in Tunisia in December 2010 and spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. It was sparked by the self-immolation of a fruit vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire after being harassed by police. The protests were met with brutal crackdowns from governments and security forces, which led to the deaths of hundreds of protesters.