Three Years After Uprisings, Arab States Take Different Paths
Here's a snapshot of the Arab world on the third anniversary of its uprisings: Tunisians celebrated in the streets. Egyptians voted on a constitution that highlighted their bitter divisions. Beleaguered Syrians prayed that peace talks will bring an end to their nightmarish civil war.
The revolutionary fervor that gripped Arab nations in early 2011 has long since dissipated. All those that experienced uprisings have struggled to remake themselves and the prevailing mood across much of the region has been disappointment or worse.
Amid this messy process, several Arab Spring countries are working through significant events this month that will define the way ahead.
Here's a look at Tunisia, the most hopeful Arab Spring nation; Egypt, the most populous Arab state; and Syria, the most convulsed.
TUNISIA: Tunisian politicians are poised to approve a new constitution hammered out during protracted negotiations between Islamist and secular parties.
This alone sets Tunisia apart from other Arab states where the battle between Islamists and secularists is still playing out, often with deadly results.
A broad cross-section of cheering Tunisians spilled into the streets on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of the ouster of Zine el-Abidene Ben Ali, the autocratic president who ruled for nearly a quarter-century before fleeing to Saudi Arabia.
It's been a bumpy road for Tunisia. Protests have turned violent and high-profile assassinations threatened to tear the country apart. The negotiations on a constitution stalled and appeared near collapse at times. The economy is still weak.
But the parties have worked out compromises on tough issues. The constitution acknowledges that Islam is the religion of Tunisia but does not make reference to Islamic law. A section on women's rights has been praised.
Elections are planned for later this year and will test whether all Tunisians have bought into the constitutional compromises.
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