The litmus test for Arab and western democratizers of the Arab world is whether they respect two components of a de-ideologized concept of democracy: the ‘freedom from’ tyranny, guaranteed by liberal constitutionalism, and the ‘freedom to’ choose policy contents autonomously. To bring about security, domestic democratization must be linked to a set of international conditions, in particular respect for international law, conflict resolution, sound economic liberalization and strong international organizations. Western democracies' promotion policies should seek support among the new Arab elites through a more transparent articulation of their interests and a consistent ‘no double standards’ approach. This essay addresses two main issues: (a) the status of the debate on Arab democracy and its weak dynamics, and (b) the role of the West in fostering or promoting democracy in the Arab world. It concludes by providing some recommendations about the appropriate framework in which a credible and more effective ...