The Tunisian transition: torn between democratic consolidation and neo-conservatism in an insecure regional context

Barcelona: European Institute of the Mediterranean (EuroMeSCo Paper Series/Papers IEMed 25)

The paper by Isabel Schäfer assesses the different phases and achievements of the transition process in Tunisa before looking at the challenges, difficulties and future perspectives. The newly emerging Tunisian political system is analysed in the context of the current developments in the wider MENA region. This paper considers the Tunisian transition as a very particular and unique case, and not as a “model”. Compared to other states in the MENA region, it is the only country where a comprehensive process of democratic consolidation is taking place so far. The hitherto success of the Tunisian transition results from a particular constellation of different factors, suggesting that the perspectives for a long-term democratic transformation process look positive but the challenges remain multifaceted.