For decades, the Middle East has experienced persistent violence and protracted conflict.

Since the beginning of the Arab Awakening in 2010—widely referred to in the coverage of developments in the region as the Arab Spring or the Arab Uprisings—the Arab world has gone through massive change.

This Discussion Paper analyses the lessons learned from the Arab Awakening. It focuses on the role played by institutions and political forces in transition processes. It also explores the role played by the League of Arab States (Arab League) in these processes. It concludes with a series of recommendations for future action.