Towards Inclusive Societies

Inclusive societies based on equal citizenship rights and dignity remain unfulfilled following the so-called Arab Spring. After years of turmoil, people in the Middle East seem to have opted for "state security" versus "human security", while exclusive identities, be they ethnic, national, or religious such as the Sunni-Shiite divide, seem to push people into monocultural settings. On the other hand, authoritarianism in the region has cloaked itself in symbols of religious pluralism while lacking genuine social and religious pluralism. Public shows of religious pluralism are celebrated without any real genuine space for religious freedom. And yet, the situation is not completely hopeless. Analysis of the hopeful signs visible in the Middle East today constitute an important feature of this publication.