Tunisia at a Tipping Point?

As the situation surrounding the flight of Tunisian dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali last Friday continues to develop, the battle for the future of Tunisia is just beginning. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tunis to force Ben Ali from office, and former prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has announced a unity government. But the protesters continue to call for a more democratic system.

No one can yet say whether democracy is at hand. The new regime has not yet consolidated power, but neither have the protestors calling for liberal reforms. Of all the groups that have participated in this street revolution, the Islamists are clearly the most organized opposition group, as they were during the Iranian revolution in 1979.