The Arab Spring, one year later

The Arab Spring is not yet over; it has evolved and its much more complex than last year. Every nation and country is different and every state dealt differently with the unrest. In Tunisia and Egypt the leaders were quick to step down. Libya experienced a civil war, while the president of Yemen is leaving through a negotiated deal. The unrest in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is not over yet and Syria has become a geopolitical battlefield. To make matters even more complicated the Iranians are exploiting religion in the region to expand their sphere of influence. And the only ones who can keep the balance with the Iranians, are the Turks. So expect a new cold war campaign throughout the Middle East. But what about freedom and democracy? After all, that is what the people expected when all this unrest started. And while I do think in the end the Arab world will achieve democracy, demo is not the same as liberty. Democracy is always based on the culture and society. So the Arab countries will achieve a democracy but one based on Islamic values.