Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Tunisia’s Salafis are newly licensed political participants. How have they done so far?
The successes and setbacks of other democratic transitions can provide insight into the problems ahead for the Arab Spring.
A lasting renaissance of the Tunisian media requires vigilance on the part of the media community itself, and an awareness of its role as the barometer of the country’s new democracy.
While there is no doubt that Tunisia’s transition is proving easier than that of other countries, it is still facing considerable political problems—in addition to its very serious economic challenges.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are likely to have little influence over the final outcome of the Arab Spring. Instead, the course of political transformation across the Middle East will be determined by domestic actors.
Widespread corruption led to the overthrow of ben Ali's regime in Tunisia. If the current government does not tackle the problem, it could have dire consequences for Tunisia's fledgling democracy.
The economic platforms of Islamist parties have largely been overlooked, despite the serious challenges that lie ahead for the economies of the Arab world.
The best hope for reconciliation and democracy promotion in the Arab world comes from a focus on economic reform and other concrete issues.
Islamist parties seem to be evolving rapidly as they learn to navigate through the difficult politics and the uncertain democratic processes of their countries.
As Tunisia's Constituent Assembly continues to tackle technical constitutional issues, it must also respond to the country's growing impatience about the slow progress on legislative issues.