One of the most frequent criticisms that has been aimed at Arab societies is that they are supposedly unfit for democracy. The joy of throwing off the French and British shackles after the Second World War was short-lived as autocracies quickly replaced the new governments. Today, as the Egyptian and Tunisian regimes crumble, with others seemingly following in their wake, Western countries are facing the same dilemma. Those who wonder at the reason behind the U.S.’s lukewarm response to individuals fighting for their rights would do well to look at the Cold War era.

Back then, the elephant in the room was communism, and many democratically elected governments were undermined and overthrown by Western-backed coups. Thus popular leaders like Allende and Lumumba were replaced by those famous democratic champions Pinochet and Mobutu. When faced with the choice of a democratically elected enemy or a bloodthirsty ally, the head often overruled the heart. It’s better to have the devil you know than the one you don’t.

Today, the problem is obviously Islam and the attitude that democratically elected governments may have towards Israel. The biggest fear is that the newly democratic countries will choose to adopt a theocratic regime bent on destroying Israel. Despite all the evils that may be associated with the regimes in the Maghreb, the chances of a great all-out war has decreased exponentially under the rule of pro-U.S. allies.

It’s no great surprise therefore, to see that the U.S. is issuing a tepid, moderate response to seemingly legitimate demands for greater democracy. After George W. Bush’s pro-democracy agenda (which at the time seemed to be extremely naïve), this seems like a step backwards in Western foreign policy. Shouldn’t it be the West’s role to encourage corrupt leaders like Mubarak and Ben Ali to step down?

Iran seems to be the ultimate counter model in our current imagination. However, to think that the Arab people view Iran as a model is probably far wide of the mark. It is highly unlikely that countries like Egypt, which has a strong Coptic minority and a rich history, will want to turn the Middle-East into a charnel-house. It may nonetheless increase pressure on Israel to come to an agreement with the Palestinian authorities, an issue that has poisoned global relations for 50 years.

Ultimately, the U.S. and the EU will have to choose between stability and their ideals. What it should remember is that they will always be in a stronger position if they stick by their principles. Nothing is more heinous than duplicity, and if the West chooses to prop up autocratic regimes rather than following its own ideology, then the long-run effects will be calamitous. If the Arab countries succeed in their transition towards greater democracy, Western leaders need to be remembered as the catalysts that helped transform the regimes, not those who supported the tyrants.