The Nobel Peace Prize

Tunisia has come a long way since the Arab Spring but still faces major challenges. There have been multiple tragedies this year, including two deadly, high-profile terrorist attacks. So the Nobel Peace Prize awarded Oct. 9 gives encouragement to the Tunisian people when they need it most.

The Nobel Committee honored the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet–a coalition of labor, business, legal and human-rights groups–celebrating its key role in the country’s move from authoritarian rule to an open democratic process. The quartet has helped Tunisia become the most successful Arab Spring country. Its efforts were galvanized in 2013, when two political assassinations shook the country. That’s when the Tunisian people decided that enough was enough. There is still hard work to be done, but the Nobel is a signal of confidence that Tunisia is on the right path.

–GORDON GRAY

Gray served as U.S. ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 to 2012