As Egypt, Tunisia, and other Middle Eastern nations eye the ??perilous transition to democracy, President Barack Obama is giving voice to a rapidly growing sentiment: they would do well to look to the recent experience of Latin America. During his current trip to the region Mr Obama has seen the extraordinary advances the region has made since the “lost decade” of the 1980s, when military regimes in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay collapsed in quick succession after many years in power.

Two decades ago the continent was filled with ruined economies, weakened institutions and pent-up demands for justice, jobs, better public services and a more equitable distribution of national wealth. Yet 20 years later, it is entering what I and others have dubbed “the Latin American decade”. Despite remaining inequities, brisk economic growth, sound fiscal management, regular elections and a healthy civil society are now the norm by and large across the hemisphere.

True, Latin America and the Middle East have significant historical and cultural differences, but I see four concrete actions taken by Latin America which stand as lessons to those seeking a new democratic era in the Middle East.