UN conference to discuss the prospects of the term "Arab spring"

The tenth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names is taking place in the UN headquarters in New York. Approximately 300 experts from 100 countries have attended the conference. In the period from July 31 to August 9, they will consider the reports of governments on measures to create a database of geographic names. The conference participants will discuss the new term “Arab Spring", according to the website of the UN.

Many delegates raise the question of whether the expression was "Arab Spring” is a source of new place names? If it is so, then what are its characteristics? How do authorities respond to those spontaneously arising names?

Delegates have been submitted a report which addresses these issues. They analyze the impact of the "Arab spring" on the use of geographical names. The report authors noted that if the last names were determined mainly by physical characteristics, today they are largely caused by the political systems. This is particularly characteristic of those societies which are referred to as undemocratic, as a rule, in such societies, individuals with power are honored that landmarks are named in their honor. Typically, locations and the most important buildings are named primarily to honor a national leader, then - in honor of the "fathers of the nation" and other high-ranking officials of the system, as well as to commemorate the major events that reflect the important achievements of the regime. -02D-