Reflecting on the three years since the Jasmine Revolution, Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, speaking at a recent event at the Council on Foreign Relations, praised Tunisia’s democratization, but acknowledged persistent security and economic challenges. Despite its small size, Tunisia plays an important role as a stable, democratic paradigm in an increasingly destabilized Arab world. In the upcoming November elections, Mr. Marzouki is optimistic the country will build upon its successes and position itself to address regional instability, terrorist threats, and domestic social and economic challenges.
The outcome of Tunisia’s revolution in 2011 differs significantly from other revolutions of the Arab Spring, a result Mr. Marzouki attributes to Tunisia’s domestic structure. Four structural features shaped the trajectory of post-revolution Tunisia: an educated population, abated corruption, absence of oil, and homogeneity. Of the four, homogeneity has proven most decisive in consolidating democracy and stabilizing the country. Tunisian society has its divisions, but fragmentation along religious, political, cultural, and ethnic lines lacks the obstinacy apparent in other countries like Syria and Iraq. These attenuated sectarian rifts facilitated the creation of a national constitution; societal divisions resisted deteriorating into entrenched partisanship, and participating parties ultimately agreed on the type of society and state they wanted to build. Successful creation and implementation of the constitution enabled a relatively peaceful transition to democracy that reaches completion with the November elections–a benchmark Mr. Marzouki considers the achievement of regime stability.
With a consolidated, stable democracy, and in collaboration with international partners, Tunisia can focus on regional instability and terrorist threats. Tunisian authorities carefully follow Libya’s recent political turmoil–and the regional disruption generated thereby–and other disconcerting trends from Egypt, Syria, and Iraq they fear may infiltrate the country’s borders. Vigilance and cooperation enable the Tunisian government to adopt appropriate policy responses to protect its citizens. Tunisia has also been the target of terrorist activities by organizations determined to assail and undermine the country’s democratic progress. Mr. Marzouki cited two terror-induced political assassinations last year intended to halt Tunisia’s transition and pull it into regional chaos. These attempts failed to achieve their objective, and the country persisted in its democratic trajectory.
Recognizing, yet downplaying Tunisia’s significant security threats, Mr. Marzouki emphasized domestic social issues as prominent challenges facing the country. The incumbent administration has launched multiple long-term initiatives to mitigate pervasive poverty; these social projects–geared to attract foreign donations, support small businesses, and create jobs–will perpetuate even with turnovers in the presidency. Additionally, realizing gender parity and protecting women and children from violence is a top priority for the Marzouki administration. Although gender equality is embedded in the constitution, it still faces resistance from the less progressive portions of the population.
High unemployment rates amongst youth and women, and a poor labor market strain social cohesion and threaten Tunisia’s stability. Perceiving no future in Tunisia, many youth emigrate to neighboring countries in pursuit of economic opportunity. According to Mr. Marzouki, freedom of expression and association, a constitution, and other democratic ideals mean little if people are without jobs. Unemployment, low standard of living, and perpetual poverty foment discontent and disillusionment; indeed, the Jasmine revolution in 2011 was a revolution of the poor. Unless the economic situation is improved, Mr. Marzouki fears there could be a “revolution within the revolution.” To address this dangerous issue, the president and his administration seek to attract foreign investment and capital to diversify all sectors of the economy and thereby create jobs. “Investing in economy is investing in peace and democracy,” said Mr. Marzouki. “If the West wants to invest in democracy and peace, [it] must invest in the economic development of Tunisia.” Tunisia’s political development over the past three years has revealed the need for economic reform if the country is to remain a stable, democratic model for the Arab world.
Tunisia’s political progress toward democracy since the Jasmine Revolution has been monumental, and as the country emerges from its period of transition it must now address serious security, social, and economic issues. With the November elections set to solidify regime stability, Tunisia can work from a position of strength to foster regional stability, combat terrorist activity, rectify poverty and gender inequality, and develop the economy. Regardless of the election’s outcome, Mr. Marzouki is optimistic that Tunisia will continue on its path of progression and meet the challenges threatening the state.
Photo: UN Geneva/Pierre Albouy.
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Security Threats and Economic Issues Challenge Tunisia’s Democratic Transition
October 31, 2014
Reflecting on the three years since the Jasmine Revolution, Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, speaking at a recent event at the Council on Foreign Relations, praised Tunisia’s democratization, but acknowledged persistent security and economic challenges. Despite its small size, Tunisia plays an important role as a stable, democratic paradigm in an increasingly destabilized Arab world. In the upcoming November elections, Mr. Marzouki is optimistic the country will build upon its successes and position itself to address regional instability, terrorist threats, and domestic social and economic challenges.
The outcome of Tunisia’s revolution in 2011 differs significantly from other revolutions of the Arab Spring, a result Mr. Marzouki attributes to Tunisia’s domestic structure. Four structural features shaped the trajectory of post-revolution Tunisia: an educated population, abated corruption, absence of oil, and homogeneity. Of the four, homogeneity has proven most decisive in consolidating democracy and stabilizing the country. Tunisian society has its divisions, but fragmentation along religious, political, cultural, and ethnic lines lacks the obstinacy apparent in other countries like Syria and Iraq. These attenuated sectarian rifts facilitated the creation of a national constitution; societal divisions resisted deteriorating into entrenched partisanship, and participating parties ultimately agreed on the type of society and state they wanted to build. Successful creation and implementation of the constitution enabled a relatively peaceful transition to democracy that reaches completion with the November elections–a benchmark Mr. Marzouki considers the achievement of regime stability.
With a consolidated, stable democracy, and in collaboration with international partners, Tunisia can focus on regional instability and terrorist threats. Tunisian authorities carefully follow Libya’s recent political turmoil–and the regional disruption generated thereby–and other disconcerting trends from Egypt, Syria, and Iraq they fear may infiltrate the country’s borders. Vigilance and cooperation enable the Tunisian government to adopt appropriate policy responses to protect its citizens. Tunisia has also been the target of terrorist activities by organizations determined to assail and undermine the country’s democratic progress. Mr. Marzouki cited two terror-induced political assassinations last year intended to halt Tunisia’s transition and pull it into regional chaos. These attempts failed to achieve their objective, and the country persisted in its democratic trajectory.
Recognizing, yet downplaying Tunisia’s significant security threats, Mr. Marzouki emphasized domestic social issues as prominent challenges facing the country. The incumbent administration has launched multiple long-term initiatives to mitigate pervasive poverty; these social projects–geared to attract foreign donations, support small businesses, and create jobs–will perpetuate even with turnovers in the presidency. Additionally, realizing gender parity and protecting women and children from violence is a top priority for the Marzouki administration. Although gender equality is embedded in the constitution, it still faces resistance from the less progressive portions of the population.
High unemployment rates amongst youth and women, and a poor labor market strain social cohesion and threaten Tunisia’s stability. Perceiving no future in Tunisia, many youth emigrate to neighboring countries in pursuit of economic opportunity. According to Mr. Marzouki, freedom of expression and association, a constitution, and other democratic ideals mean little if people are without jobs. Unemployment, low standard of living, and perpetual poverty foment discontent and disillusionment; indeed, the Jasmine revolution in 2011 was a revolution of the poor. Unless the economic situation is improved, Mr. Marzouki fears there could be a “revolution within the revolution.” To address this dangerous issue, the president and his administration seek to attract foreign investment and capital to diversify all sectors of the economy and thereby create jobs. “Investing in economy is investing in peace and democracy,” said Mr. Marzouki. “If the West wants to invest in democracy and peace, [it] must invest in the economic development of Tunisia.” Tunisia’s political development over the past three years has revealed the need for economic reform if the country is to remain a stable, democratic model for the Arab world.
Tunisia’s political progress toward democracy since the Jasmine Revolution has been monumental, and as the country emerges from its period of transition it must now address serious security, social, and economic issues. With the November elections set to solidify regime stability, Tunisia can work from a position of strength to foster regional stability, combat terrorist activity, rectify poverty and gender inequality, and develop the economy. Regardless of the election’s outcome, Mr. Marzouki is optimistic that Tunisia will continue on its path of progression and meet the challenges threatening the state.
Photo: UN Geneva/Pierre Albouy.
