The Shia focus on political reforms that would reflect their majority status. Aggrieved Sunnis, however, want socio economic changes, such as affordable housing. And, whereas Egyptian protesters of all types found common ground in insisting that President Hosni Mubarak resign, Bahrainis will find it almost impossible to agree on a rallying cry.

Indeed, both geographically and demographically, Afghanistan s non Pashtun groups account for more than half of the country, with Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras alone making up close to 50 of the population.