Conclusion : the promises and challenges of the Arab revolutions

This concluding chapter analyses the various promises and challenges that were embodied in the Arab revolutions and face the region as it moves forward. It concludes by noting that if those who participated in these popular movements are patient, engage and invest in this period of change to make their own authentic and democratic future, then there is real hope for the region. It is up to the people of the MENA to decide whether the spark ignited in the many ‘Tahrir’ squares is snuffed out or burns brightly.