Source: BBC America

As unrest and turmoil spread across the Arab world, the response of governments and citizens has differed depending on the conditions that shape the political, economic, and social realities in each country, explained Marwan Muasher on BBC America. In countries like Tunisia with relatively homogenous populations, there have been relatively peaceful movements for change. However in countries like Bahrain and Syria, with minority ruling regimes, Muasher explained that the unrest has quickly become violent and any transition will be met with a sustained period of conflict. “There is no question that this is a process that has started and has only started,” Muasher asserted. “I think we will measure what is going on in terms of decades rather than months and years.”

Initially, “the US pursued a policy of prioritizing stability over democracy and reform and it ended up with neither,” Muasher said. The Obama administration is now struggling to figure out how to react on a country by country basis and how it can support real reform that leads to a true separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.  Muasher added that the killing of Bin Laden will further discourage extremism. The protests across the Arab world have shown the people that they can affect change more efficaciously without violence.