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International Affairs
Elite Politics and the Collapse of Tunisia’s Democratic Experiment
Ruth Hanau Santini 28 October 2024

Ruth Hanau Santini, associate professor of Politics and International relations at the University of Naples L’Orientale, discusses how Tunisia’s democratic backslide stemmed from unimplemented reforms and an elite-driven process that sidelined public trust. These issues ultimately paved the way for populist influence, culminating in Tunisia’s current political crisis.
Political Theory
Hatem Nafti: “Tunisia, A Regime with No Alternative to its Rhetoric of Conspiracy”
Federica Zoja 21 October 2024

After surpassing 90 percent approval in the first round of the presidential elections on October 6, incumbent Tunisian leader Kais Saied faces his new term in a political, social, and economic climate vastly different from that of 2019. We discussed this shift with writer and essayist Hatem Nafty, whose latest work, Notre ami Kaïs Saïed. Essai sur la démocrature tunisienne (Our Friend Kais Saied: An Essay on the Tunisian Dictatorship), was presented in late September.
Political Theory
Tunisia Elections 2024: The Fake Reluctant Autocrat
Ruth Hanau Santini 30 September 2024

Since July 25, 2021, Tunisia has been in a state of self-coup. President Kais Saied, elected two years earlier, suspended parliament that summer, had the prime minister resign, and issued two presidential decrees that consolidated all executive powers in his hands – rather than sharing them with the prime minister, as outlined in the 2014 Constitution.
Political Theory
Tunisian Democracy Needed Time (And a Marshall Plan)
Radwan Masmoudi 27 August 2024

For years, Tunisia was viewed as a democratic success in the Arab world. However, according to Radwan Masmoudi, President of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), it ultimately failed because it was still in the process of developing into a full democracy, with weak political parties, unaddressed economic issues, and declining international support undermining its progress.
Political Theory
Tunisia: Clamping Down on Civil Liberties Ahead of Understated Presidential Elections
Ruth Hanau Santini 24 May 2024

Next autumn Tunisians will go to the polls to elect the President of the Republic. The Election’s date has not been confirmed, and the main opposition coalition, Chebbi’s National Salvation Front, has announced they will boycott the vote unless three conditions will be met: the electoral commission will be independent, the main Islamist party, Ennahda, will be allowed to re-open its headquarters, and all political prisoners will be freed. When Tunisians last voted for presidential elections, all those conditions were in place, but in the past few years, political and civil liberties have shrunk to the extent that the country is not only “partly” free but its democratic ranking continues to deteriorate, year on year.
Migrations
Stuck in Tunisia. Migrant Plight amid EU Pact’s Failure
Ilaria Romano 30 October 2023

Tunisia faces challenges managing a surge in refugees and migrants, with 11,000 registered by the UNHCR, making it a major departure point for those heading to Europe. The country lacks proper infrastructure for immigration, providing minimal support to registered migrants. The EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address the issue, but obstacles and human rights concerns persist, with Tunisia rejecting the first EU aid installment.
Human Rights, Migrations
Before the Crossing: Sub-Saharan Migrants in Tunisia
Ilaria Romano 6 October 2023

A reportage about the sub-Saharian migrants who arrived in Tunisia with the idea of embarking and reaching Italian shores after grueling journeys and long periods of detention behind them, spent in migrant centers in Libya. In many of their stories, they have already attempted the crossing to the Italian island of Lampedusa, but have been stopped and sent back by the National Guard, or have been left at the mercy of the waves with their engine failing before being brought back to shore by some passing fishing boat
Human Rights, International Affairs
International Academics Call for Ghannouchi’s Release in Tunisia
Alessandra Tommasi 27 September 2023
International Affairs
Tunisia’s Authoritarian Regime in a Game of Political Brinkmanship
Ruth Hanau Santini 11 September 2023

Few commentators make predictions these days about Tunisia, with the exception of its financial resilience deemed to be now overstretched and foreign reserves hardly covering the country’s needs in the autumn. Whether Kais Saied will be able to pull a last minute trick out of the autocratic hat, or whether Tunisia will face a default and financial and social collapse is anyone’s guess.
International Affairs
Decline of Freedom, Collapse of Politics:
End of Parties throughout the MENA
Claudia De Martino 19 July 2023

Democracy is not doing well in the MENA region and political parties are the main casualties, surviving through life-support mechanisms but failing to make inroads in their respective national political contexts.