Tunisia : an Arab anomaly / Safwan M. Masri ; foreword by Lisa Anderson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Masri, Safwan M., author.

Contributor:

Anderson, Lisa, 1950- writer of foreword.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social conditions.

Politics and government.

Tunisia--History--Demonstrations, 2010-.

Tunisia.

History.

Tunisia--Politics and government--20th century.

Tunisia--Politics and government--21st century.

Tunisia--History.

Tunisia--Social conditions--20th century.

Tunisia--Social conditions--21st century.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xxxiv, 378 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, [2017]

Summary:

The Arab Spring began and ended with Tunisia. In a region beset by brutal repression, humanitarian disasters, and civil war, Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution alone gave way to a peaceful transition to a functioning democracy. Within four short years, Tunisians passed a progressive constitution, held fair parliamentary elections, and ushered in the country's first-ever democratically elected president. But did Tunisia simply avoid the misfortunes that befell its neighbors, or were there particular features that set the country apart and made it a special case?In Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly, Safwan M. Masri explores the factors that have shaped the country's exceptional experience. He traces Tunisia's history of reform in the realms of education, religion, and women's rights, arguing that the seeds for today's relatively liberal and democratic society were planted as far back as the middle of the nineteenth century. Masri argues that Tunisia stands out less as a model that can be replicated in other Arab countries, but rather as an anomaly, as its history of reformism set it on a separate trajectory from the rest of the region. The narrative explores notions of identity, the relationship between Islam and society, and the hegemonic role of religion in shaping educational, social, and political agendas across the Arab region. Based on interviews with dozens of experts, leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens, and a synthesis of a rich body of knowledge, Masri provides a sensitive, often personal, account that is critical for understanding not only Tunisia but also the broader Arab world.

Contents:

I. Tunisian Spring: timeline of Tunisia's revolution

Can Tunisia serve as a model?

Prelude to revolution

If the people will to live

A remarkable transition

The morning after

II. Roots of Tunisian identity

Carthage

Tunisian Islam

Influencing rivalries

The age of modern reform

1956

III. L'École, la femme, et 'laïcité'

The father of Tunisia

Putting religion in its place

Educating a nation

A different trajectory

The education paradox

Epilogue: An Arab anomaly.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Masri, Safwan M., author. Tunisia

ISBN:

9780231179508

0231179502

OCLC:

974911821

Publisher Number:

14441436