Student Type
Graduate
University
Old Dominion University
Country
United States
Document Type
Conference Paper
Description/Abstract
The death of one Tunisian man by self-immolation in 2010 created uprisings in 18 other Arab countries in what is known as the 2011 Arab Spring. As a result, Tunisia managed to overthrow its long-standing autocratic government and establish a democracy; it is the only nation who has managed to maintain those changes since 2011. As the first point of protest and the only success story, what makes Tunisia different from the other 18 nations? While there has been research on why Tunisia has succeeded, there is little on how Tunisia’s colonial history under France for 75 years might have affected Tunisia’s uprising, protests, democratization, and continued success. This paper cannot answer all of this effectively, but it does indicate some of the lasting effects of French colonization that have irrevocably shaped Tunisia. Through linguistics and education, economic reform and political evolution, the French caused a progression of society in Tunisia that facilitated its success as a democracy in the 21st century.
Disciplines
African History | Asian Studies | International Relations | Islamic World and Near East History | Near and Middle Eastern Studies
DOI
10.25776/3t98-fb81
Session Title
Colonialism: Past, Present, and Future
Location
Webb Center, Isle of Wight Room
Start Date
2-10-2023 12:00 AM
End Date
2-10-2023 12:00 AM
Upload File
wf_yes
Included in
African History Commons, Asian Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons
Tunisia: The Colonized Road to a Democratic Identity
Webb Center, Isle of Wight Room
The death of one Tunisian man by self-immolation in 2010 created uprisings in 18 other Arab countries in what is known as the 2011 Arab Spring. As a result, Tunisia managed to overthrow its long-standing autocratic government and establish a democracy; it is the only nation who has managed to maintain those changes since 2011. As the first point of protest and the only success story, what makes Tunisia different from the other 18 nations? While there has been research on why Tunisia has succeeded, there is little on how Tunisia’s colonial history under France for 75 years might have affected Tunisia’s uprising, protests, democratization, and continued success. This paper cannot answer all of this effectively, but it does indicate some of the lasting effects of French colonization that have irrevocably shaped Tunisia. Through linguistics and education, economic reform and political evolution, the French caused a progression of society in Tunisia that facilitated its success as a democracy in the 21st century.