conflict analysis: the case of 2011 revolution in tunisia

CONFLICT ANALYSIS: THE

CASE OF 2011 REVOLUTION

IN TUNISIA

ISSIFU ABDUL KARIM

MPhil Peace and Development Studies

PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT

MANAGEMENT

[email protected]

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

Introduction Historical underpinnings

The Jasmine revolution

Causes

Drivers of the revolution

Ethnography evidence

Approaches to peacebuilding in Tunisia international and local

Theoretical underpinnings

Effects on peace and development

Statistics of the Tunisia revolution Positive impact

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

In 2011, Tunisians rose in protest against the government

in what is called the Jasmin Revolution. The protests were

provoked by years of corruption by the Ben Ali regime.

Again, when a street vendor was arrested and fined for

failing to have a permit and was fine US$7.00, the man

protested by setting himself on fire. His act was literally the

spark that ignited a revolution. Within days, Ben Ali stepped

down as Tunisia's dictator and fled to Saudi Arabia with his

ill-gotten fortune.

MAP OF TUNISIA Capital: Tunis

Area: 163,610sq

km

Population:

10,319,000

It is located

between Libya

and Algeria

THE JASMIN REVOLUTION

Since 2008, Tunisias prosperity declined as a result of the global recession, leaving many young people unemployed at

a time of escalating prices. A young man in Tunisia had

finally endured too much of the repressive regime under

which he lived, and burned himself to death.

It seemed to be the only way he could protest and leave no

victim to be punished. He was Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-

year-old who could not find work after finishing his university

education (see fig. 1). He earned a bare living operating a

fruit and vegetable cart on the street. He was arrested for not

having a proper permit to sell.


So he went to the front steps of the governor's office in his small town of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia, poured gasoline

upon himself, and went up in flames on December 17, 2010.

His flames ignited Tunisia, where his countrymen drove out

their repressive ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14,

2011. Somewhat shockingly, this example was followed in

Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Libya.hence the Arab Spring.

For instance, hundreds of thousands gathered in Cairo's

Tahrir Square and other places of protest, and endured 846

deaths (as of April 19, 2011) at the hands of Hosni Mubarak's

police and militias (Uthman, 2012).


Figure 1 Mohamed Bouazizi, 26years(RIP)


The WikiLeaks revelations confirmed that people

surrounding president Ben Ali were corrupt and spent a

lot of money. They lived in mansions and had their food

delivered to them directly from France. It was happening

at a time when ordinary Tunisians were struggling to find

jobs and feed their families. Therefore, Bouazizis action caused Ben Ali to step down.

TUNISIA REVOLUTION MAIN CAUSES

The death of Bouazizi

Secularist policies that placed restrictions on religious

expression, including group prayer and the wearing of

hijabs, (Cavatorta & Merone, 2013).

Deepening economic crisis leading to massive

unemployment, corruption and human right abuses

(ACLED, 2013).

Imposition of an Islamist ideology (ACLED, 2013).

TUNISIA REVOLUTION DRIVERS OF THE REVOLUTION

Islamist radicalisation and division between Islamic and

secular communities

The release of Islamists imprisoned during Ben Alis rule; the presence of ultraconservative preachers from abroad;

geographic economic disparities; and socio-political

alienation, particularly among young people (Wolf, 2013).

Socio-economic factors

Experts indicate that before and particularly after the

revolution many Tunisians have suffered economically due to

rising unemployment (particularly among university

graduates), stark regional inequalities, and corruption (ICG,

2012).

TUNISIA REVOLUTION DRIVERS OF THE REVOLUTION CONT..

Political reform and transitional justice

In October 2011, large rallies supported by secularists and trade unions were held in the Tunis calling for the immediate resignation of Ben Ali (Mersch, 2013)

Marginalisation of young people

The marginalisation of young people in Tunisia is multidimensional and surprisingly widespread (Marks, 2013: 110). Despite their central role in the revolution, many political parties have failed to meaningfully include young people in their decision making processes and bodies (Marks, 2013).

TUNISIA REVOLUTION Ethnographic evidence

Protesters with a sign that says

"Ben Ali, get lost" in French

Demonstration in support of the

Tunisian protests in Nantes,

France, 15 January 2011


A protest by the General

Labour Union against

economic hardship

Translation from French: Ben Ali out


Citizens Jubilations after Ben Alis exit

TUNISIA REVOLUTION

WHO AT ALL IS BEN ALI?

TUNISIA REVOLUTION HERE I AM!

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was the second President of Tunisia from

1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was

appointed Prime Minister in

October 1987, and he assumed

the Presidency on 7 November

1987 in a bloodless coup

Born September 3, 1936 (age 79), Hammam Sousse, Tunisia

Party: Socialist Destourian Party Spouse: Lela Ben Ali (m. 1992),

Na'ima el-Kafy (m. 19641988) Children: Ghazwa El Abidine,

Nesrine El Abidine.

Previous offices: President of Tunisia (19892011).

Education: School of Applied Artillery, cole spciale militaire

de Saint-Cyr

TUNISIA REVOLUTION

Theoretical underpinnings

Frustration aggression theory.

Human needs theory

TUNISIA REVOLUTION Effects on the economy

The short-term effects of the revolution have also exacerbated the economic problems, by frightening away tourists who were a mainstay of the countrys economy, and by discouraging new foreign investment.

Effects on education

Few rich parents sent their children to schools in abroad and the many poor ones kept their children at home for the fear of their precious lives (SAISGroup, 2012).

TUNISIA REVOLUTION

Effects on peace and security

A prison director in Mahdia freed about 1,000 inmates following a prison rebellion that left 5 people dead. Many other prisons also had jail breaks or raids from external groups to force prisoner releases, some suspected to be aided by prison guards (SAIS Group 2012).

Effects on human settlement

In mid-February 2011, about 4,000 mostly Tunisian became refugees and landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa

TUNISIA REVOLUTION International and local responses to Peacebuilding in

Tunisia

Western approach

The US government has provided significant support to

peace and security architecture in Tunisia. US assistance,

in the form of Foreign Military Financing, International

Military Education and the Counter Terrorism Program

1206, has attempted to address various military needs

including providing vehicles, patrol boats, and educational

opportunities for military personnel as part of

peacebuilding.

TUNISIA REVOLUTION

Western approach cont..

UNDP has provided support to key institutions, processes

and stakeholders that have a role in the transition to

democracy in Tunisia (UNDP, 2011).

The Wold Bank provided a development policy loan of

US$500 million to finance reform programmes in the short

term in areas including governance, transparency and

accountability in Tunisai (Mahjoub & Bala, 2012).

TUNISIA REVOLUTION

Local approach

Locally, the Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Centre

(KADEM), alongside its international partner No Peace

Without Justice (NPWJ), has provided support to

democratic transition through increasing the awareness

and understanding of transitional justice, including

providing advice on how to investigate past violations

(NPWJ). A key component of this approach involves

working with victims, including those who suffered

violations of socio-economic rights, to help them engage

with policy and decision makers (Ibid.).

STATISTICAL FACTS OF THE REVOLUTION

A suicide bomb attack on an historic synagogue in the

resort of Djerba in 2002 killed 21 people. Suspected

Islamists were killed in shoot-outs with security forces in

2006-7, and pro-al-Qaeda groups have been active on the

Algerian border since 2012 (BBC, 2012).

The killings of two opposition politicians in 2011 led to a

stand-off between Ennahda and its secular rivals, with

opposition supporters taking to the streets to demand

fresh elections. (Willsher, 2011).


Tunisia has dropped by 8 places in recent Global

Competitiveness Report rankings (Tunisia is ranked 40th)

published by the World Economic Forum - the country's

position has fallen in 2011 (Ameur,2012).

The official number of deaths during the Tunisian

Revolution comes to 338, according to a report released

by the National Fact-Finding Commission into the

violations committed during the popular uprising. 2,147

people were additionally reported wounded throughout

the revolution by the Commission (NFFC, 2012).


Most recently, on 30 October 2013, there was a suicide

bomb attack outside a hotel in the tourist town Sousse.

Killing only himself, police contend the bomber sought to

target the compound of President Bourguibas mausoleum (ACLED, 2013).

Out of 338 killed in the uprising, 96.5 per cent were men,

and most of them were under 40 years old (Egypt

Independent, 2012).


Previous casualty estimates had been provided by the

United Nations, which said there were about 300 deaths

and 700 injuries (UN, 2012).

At least 300 people were killed and 700 injured during the

Tunisian uprising, a top U.N. human rights expert said

Saturday, (CNN) May 21, 2011 - Updated 2206 GMT

(0606 HKT).

CURRENT PRESIDENT

Mr Beji Caid Essebsi came to office in December 2014 after

winning the first free presidential election since the uprising that

toppled autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali

STRUCTURAL IMPACT OF THE

REVOLUTION-current situations

2014 new Constitution and interim government;

Tunisias National Constituent Assembly approved a new Constitution for the country on January 25 2014, three

years after dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted by

a popular uprising (European Forum, 2015).

Political system after the 2014 Constitution

Although Tunisias new Constitution reaffirms the pre-

existing Republican system, in which the executive power

is held by the President for five years with the help of the

Prime Minister, it modified the legislative power (European

Forum, 2015).

Gender representation

The 2014 Tunisian Constitution is, in the Arab and Muslim

world, the basic law that offers the most guarantees for

women's rights. Its article 46 guarantees equality of opportunities between women and men to have access to

all levels of responsibility and in all fields

STRUCTURAL IMPACT OF THE

REVOLUTION-current situations The 2012 Governance, Opportunity and Jobs DPL (GOJ

DPL), supported the government in launching a

participatory review of business formalities to streamline

procedures, increase transparency, and reduce arbitrary

and discretionary behaviour (World Bank, 2012).

Post-revolutionary Governments have pursued

expansionary fiscal and monetary policies until 2013 to

support the economy and employment.

In the education sector, the National Authority for the

Evaluation, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of higher

education was established (World Bank, 2012).

THANK YOU

conflict analysis: the case of 2011 revolution in tunisia

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