The euphoria sparked by the Arab Spring is giving way to disquiet over political instability and the growing influence of Islamists, but the democratic process still looks unstoppable, experts believe.
It’s impossible for things to go back to coups and despotism after all that happened
In 12 months, the Arab world has gone through more changes than it saw in decades, with Tunisia and Egypt staging historic elections.
A popular uprising ousted long-time Tunisian leader Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in January, sending shockwaves rippling across North Africa and the Middle East.
Protesters overthrew autocratic Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak a month later, while Libyans took up arms before finally toppling dictator Col. Gaddafi and killing him in October.
Following months of bloody unrest, Yemenis are turning a new page after their long-time autocratic leader signed a Gulf-brokered agreement under which he is to cede power by February.
And their Syrian counterparts might finally be seeing light at the end of the tunnel as the Arab and international communities boost efforts to end a bloody crackdown on dissent that has lasted nearly nine months.
“The uprisings have opened new horizons after long years of tyranny and stagnation,” said Syrian intellectual Sadiq Jalal al-Azm.
Ziad Majed, a lecturer on Middle Eastern affairs at the American University of Paris, also foresees a bright future.
“The path towards democracy will only move forward,” said Mr Majed. “It’s impossible for things to go back to coups and despotism after all that has happened.”
Islamists are beginning to reap the benefits of the Arab Spring which was led by independent youths defying the myth of “oriental despotism.”
But with Islamists who have always been suppressed by Arab autocrats aspiring to power in many countries, liberals are voicing fears of a dark era ahead. An argument dismissed by Mr Majed.
“Some say that the victory of some Islamist groups in elections brings to an end the hopes for democracy which these revolts have promised, but this is not true,” he said. “The Islamists winning now did not seize power through violence or jihad, and they do not reject elections and power transfer in principle.”
Islamists are rising to power thanks to years of oppression under the rule of secular autocrats, according to French academic Jean-Pierre Filiu.
“The various dictatorships that have portrayed themselves as the shield in the face of Islamists have largely participated in raising the popularity of these Islamist parties as a sole alternative to their governments,” said the Paris-based professor of political science.
Mr Azm agrees that Islamists “have benefited from sympathy votes” after most of their prominent leaders have spent years in exile and their followers have been frequently jailed.
In Tunisia, Islamists emerged as the strongest political force after elections in October, whereas in Egypt, they achieved a surprise 65 per cent of votes during the first phase of polling.
Their rapid rise has sent shockwaves through liberal ranks. The real question is whether these Islamist movements who have no real experience of government will cling to power or are ready to let go if beaten in future elections.