CDDRL Director Larry Diamond and Lina Khatib, Program Manager for the Program on Good Governance and Political Reform in the Arab World, weigh in on the popular uprising in Tunisia in two different opinion pieces offering an analysis of the fall of the Ben Ali regime and the prospects for democratic reform during this historic moment. Diamond draws on lessons from failed authoritarian transitions to provide recommendations for Tunisia to build an open society during this transitional period marked by "democratic energy." Khatib likens the Tunisian regime to a "house of cards," describing its rapid collapse and the broader implications across the Arab world.

• Larry Diamond on Tunisia's uncertain transition
• Lina Khatib on Tunisia: the house of cards