History.com noted that the Arab Spring “was a series of pro-democracy uprisings that enveloped several largely Muslim countries, including Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain”. Of all these countries the democracy protests only succeeded in bringing meaningful democratic change in Tunisia. An interesting article in Borgen Magazine examines the democratic transition in Tunisia and how the country managed it. Here is an excerpt:

Ten years ago, the Arab Spring, a series of protests taking place in the six Middle Eastern nations of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain and Tunisia, rocked the Arab world. Beginning as a movement for greater freedoms, it eventually grew into an all-out call to realize democracy. However, of the six nations in which the Arab Spring took place, only Tunisia managed the democratic transition well. A military rule dominates Egypt, the civil war roils Libya and Syria and autocrats largely govern Yemen and Bahrain. On the other hand, Tunisia is considered a success story, making strong gains in the Freedom House Index and serving as a model nation for much of the Middle East.

What is the secret to Tunisia’s accomplishment? Several factors, including sustained pressure by the Tunisian people and the active participation of multiple pro-democracy NGOs, led to the success of this newly born democracy and each will be further analyzed below.

Find the full article here.