Baby steps

A number of analyses on the march to democracy in the Middle East are emerging. It seems as though there are different political cultures being created, with many Iraqis asserting their desire to see a ethnically representative and secular administration. Meanwhile, in Egypt, the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood continues to be President Hosni Mubarak's main opposition as secular democrats like Ayman Nour struggle to make themselves heard. Despite these growing pains, progress is being achieved, as Austin Bay presciently reminds us.

It is not a sprint but certainly a marathon towards democracy in the Arab world. Now, the question is, are markets, the rule of law and a culture of transparency being established and encouraged as well? Without them, democracy will be hard to sustain over the long-term.