After Tunisia and Egypt, Algeria was the third Arab country that attempted to start a social and political revolution. The two marches of Feb. 12 and 19, organized by the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD), essentially demanded a repeal of the state of emergency and a “change of system.” They reportedly mobilized only 250 and 500 people respectively, according to Algérie Presse Service.

Due to these low numbers, some people might say that Algerians do not want to engage in revolution and are therefore not ready for change. In fact the situation is different: Algerians do want change, but they are afraid of a potential drift into unchecked anarchy and violence. And in any case the Algerian revolution is slowly finding its way via the structures of civil society.

For some years now Algeria has been mired in a deep economic, political and social crisis. As many as 9,700 riots, resulting in the destruction of property, clashes and youth violence, took place in 2010 throughout the country. This relatively high figure reflects the deep frustration of Algerians, who are grappling with the high cost of living, massive unemployment, housing shortages and an across-the-board feeling of helplessness vis-à-vis the unknowns of their daily lives.

Judging from the fairly timid demonstrations of recent months, one can think it is glaringly obvious that the Algerian people have suppressed any hope for change. And the only alternative for its young people has consisted of going on rampages to destroy property as an expression of their discontent. Violence, however, is not a solution. And in the meantime, a peaceful revolution is slowly happening.

There is a need for demonstrations that aim at regime change and an opening for a transition that would steer clear of past mistakes and avoid turning back the painful pages of the book of Algerian history.

During the 1980s, a spate of popular upheavals provoked by social problems, such as unemployment and housing shortages, took place, culminating on Oct. 5, 1988, in large-scale riots and demonstrations that shook the regime. Unfortunately the move toward a more democratic system resulted in the so-called Black Decade, a decade of terrorism. The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which came out ahead in the 1991 general election and was stripped of its victory by a military coup. A civil war ensued, engulfing the whole country in blood and terror. Nowadays Algerian society is numbed by fear. People prefer to ignore calls from the street that might drag them back into bloody warfare and irreversible chaos.

As a major force to be reckoned with, and representing 70 percent of the population, Algerian youth now takes full advantage of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. They have used these media to sends out calls for solidarity throughout the country in order to unite various forces and to wage a peaceful fight for democracy. Youth associations, independent trade unions and women’s groups are committed to the principle of an organized movement for change.

These young people now realize that there is no future in disorganized calls for change. The only way forward is for them to accept existing civil society structures, bolster them, identify with them and continue on their march to freedom.

Many youth committees have emerged as a result of the many strikes organized in Algeria, including committees of young unemployed workers and university student committees. They are all grouped under the umbrella of the CNCD, the movement that sparked off the demonstrations in Algiers. Currently the CNCD is planning a number of events in various governorates of the country to inform and mobilize the population. For organizational purposes, the coordination has set up two operational committees – one dealing with arranging events, and the other to prepare publicity for and heighten visibility of the events.

The overthrow of the Tunisian and Egyptian dictatorships came about as the result of a unique alliance between youth, the alternative media, solidarity and sheer obstinacy. In Algeria, media enjoy relative freedom. The Internet was never censored. With this major asset in hand, civil society could channel the restlessness of young Algerians and help them organize a platform that might rally the rest of the Algerian people and develop a charter calling for three main demands: democracy, accountability and equal opportunity.

N. Hafid is a human rights activist. THE DAILY STAR  publishes this commentary in collaboration with the Common Ground News Service (www.commongroundnews.org).