Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
On June 27, Tunisia opened its land, sea, and air borders for the first time in three months. While the government’s aggressive response to the coronavirus successfully limited the number of cases in Tunisia, the shutdown caused severe economic stress.
As Tunisia marks the ninth anniversary of its revolution, the country faces a new set of challenges.
A dynamic region amidst great change, the Maghreb is also home to the conservative, literalist interpretation of Islam known as Salafism, which has emerged as a major social and political force.
As one part of the global democratic recession, severe political polarization is increasingly afflicting old and new democracies alike, producing the erosion of democratic norms and rising societal anger.
Tunisia is at a crossroads. The democratic transition has failed to meet the expectations of most citizens, with the government unable to address key challenges facing their country. What comes next?
As Tunisia moves closer to elections, the level of trust people have in the government and the electoral system is at a low point. The country’s political parties must find a way to connect with the public to both win votes and restore faith in Tunisia’s democratic institutions.
Religious authority is an increasingly influential but poorly understood source of power in governments throughout the Middle East. Who speaks for Islam in the region? How do Islamists and fundamentalists harness and exert religious authority, despite Islam’s largely decentralized power structure?
Mayor Abderrahim discussed her role as the first female, democratically-elected mayor of Tunis, and how she is leading the charge to bring positive change to the capital.
The Carnegie Middle East Program will screen the documentary, “Tunisia: Justice in Transition.” The film tracks the trajectory of Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission, established in 2013 to address the crimes of the Ben Ali and Bourguiba regimes.
For decentralization in Tunisia to be successful, the central government, local government, civil society, and international donors must each invest in the process.
