April 30, 2014 12:13 AM
By Marwan Muasher
The Daily Star

Story Summary

When the second Arab awakening began in 2011, its primary goal should have been to advance pluralism and democracy – causes that were neglected in the Arab world’s first, anti-colonial awakening in the 20th century.

Will the second Arab awakening finally achieve its goals?

These models reflect the vast differences among Arab countries’ current circumstances and prospects for the future.

Tunisia’s experience embodies the commitment to pluralism and democracy for which the second Arab awakening stands.

With the right approach, any country can succeed in building a better future.

Of course, the path taken by the second Arab awakening has not been defined entirely by national boundaries.

But, while the rigid social systems that long impeded progress have broken down in many Arab countries over the last three years, with liberalism becoming a more acceptable worldview, the experiences of Egypt and Syria demonstrate that the goals of the second Arab awakening are not universally shared.

Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2014/Apr-30/254869-three-alternatives-exist-for-a-liberal-arab-future.ashx#ixzz30LufqlYV
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)