THE causes of instability in the region in relation to the Arab Spring were discussed yesterday at a conference held by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

IISS consulting senior fellow Toby Dodge was the main speaker and presented his finding in a discussion titled Drivers of Instability: Reflections on the Arab Spring, which was held at the GBCORP tower in the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

Dr Dodge went through what he called the three broad sets of outcomes of the Arab Spring. The majority of states in the region which successfully suppressed, bought off or demobilised their populations belonged to the first set.

The second outcome was a more evenly balanced contest between those mobilising for change and the regimes themselves, but has caused countries like Libya and Syria to descend into civil war, he said.

The final section were those countries that were in the midst of a largely peaceful transition after regime change such as Egypt and Tunisia.

More than 60 people attended the discussion including top officials and politicians.,