ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the roots of minorities' communal fears, and analyzes their attitudes toward the Arab Spring, showing how each minority either availed itself of opportunities the Arab Spring presented or suffered further from the risks it posed. Furthermore, contrary to stereotypical depictions of the region as Arab-Islamic, the Middle East and North Africa are a showcase of diversity of ethnicities, religions, and sects. Research shows that diversity takes a toll on the prospects of democratization, as political groups dig in along sectarian lines. Many scholars have argued that democratization is most stable in homogenous countries and more difficult in ethnically diverse ones. This is because ethnic politics have a tendency to divide society along ethnic and sectarian lines. Post-revolutionary periods are fraught with uncertainty and anxiety, especially among smaller ethnic and religious groups, who tend to be the most vulnerable segments of the population. Even democratization processes could increase the risk of civil violence.
