ABSTRACT
Religion still plays a significant role in the Arab Middle East and occupies a large portion of the public space. This space for religion has been increasing in the recent years notably with the transition that most Arab countries are going through. Today, more than ever before, civil society organizations have to deal with this fact and adapt to it, which presents them with significant challenges: the clear division between the different actors, the drift along sectarian and religious division, the appearance of fundamentalism, and the societal divisions that happened along sectarian, tribal and ethnic lines have all had a negative effect on civil society with an increased distrust between the different players. During and aftermath any crisis, civil society is invited to step in and assist in building a strong state in the absence of state’s institutions. Civil society thus faces the difficult task of guiding citizens to build their own institutions and educating them about their right and duties, and making sure that the new building structures of the state institutions and the social values system are strong enough to bring peace and stability but are also democratic and pluralist enough to bring sustainable long-term stability.
