Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly

415 Pages·2017·5.33 MB·English

by  Safwan M. Masri

TUNISIA

T U N I SI A
An Arab Anomaly
SAFWAN M. MASRI
FOREWORD BY LISA ANDERSON
Columbia University Press
New York
Columbia University Press
Publishers Since 1893
New York(cid:3273)Chichester, West Sussex
cup.columbia.edu
Copyright © 2017 Columbia University Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Masri, Safwan M., author.
Title: Tunisia : an Arab anomaly (cid:18) Safwan M. Masri.
Description: New York : Columbia University Press, 2017. (cid:95) Includes
(cid:3273)bibliographical references and index.
Identi(cid:1006)ers: LCCN 2017009826 (print) (cid:95) LCCN 2017011385 (ebook) (cid:95)
(cid:3273)ISBN 97802315(cid:23)5020 (cid:95) ISBN 9780231179508 (alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Tunisia—History—Demonstrations, 2010– (cid:95) Tunisia—Politics
(cid:3273)and government—20th century. (cid:95) Tunisia—Politics and government—21st
(cid:3273)century. (cid:95) Tunisia—History. (cid:95) Tunisia—Social conditions—20th century. (cid:95)
(cid:3273)Tunisia—Social conditions—21st century.
Classi(cid:1006)cation: LCC DT266.9(cid:23) (ebook) (cid:95) LCC DT266.9(cid:23) .M378 2017 (print) (cid:95)
(cid:3273)DDC 961.1053—dc23
LC record available at https:(cid:18)(cid:18)lccn.loc.gov(cid:18)2017009826
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent
and durable acid-free paper.
Printed in the United States of America
Cover design: (cid:45)ordan Wannemacher
Cover image: © lantapix (cid:18) Alamy Stock Photo
To the loving memory of my parents:
my mother, Inam, who was, and is, my best friend,
inspiration, and role model of a learner, teacher, and woman;
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:78)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:1016)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:77)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:15)
and lived and loved by his own rules.

Contents
Maps ix
Foreword xiii
Preface xix
Introduction xxv
I. TUNISIAN SPRING:
TIMELINE OF TUNISIA’S REVOLUTION 1
1. Can Tunisia Serve as a Model(cid:34) 5
2. Prelude to Revolution 22
3. If the People Will to Live 38
4. A Remarkable Transition 52
5. The Morning After 71
II. ROOTS OF TUNISIAN IDENTITY 91
6. Carthage 93
7. Tunisian Islam 108
8. In(cid:1008)uencing Rivalries 122
9. The Age of Modern Reform 1(cid:23)3
10. 1956 165
III. L’ÉCOLE, LA FEMME, ET “LAÏCITÉ” 193
11. The Father of Tunisia 195
12. Putting Religion in Its Place 22(cid:23)
VIII CONTENTS
13. Educating a Nation 2(cid:23)3
14. A Di(cid:1016)erent Trajectory 259
15. The Education Paradox 280
Epilogue: An Arab Anomaly 291
Acknowledgments 297
List of Abbreviations 301
Notes 303
Glossary 3(cid:23)7
Selected Bibliography 357
Index 361
Bizerte
Ariana
Carthage
Béja TUNIS
Manouba
Jendouba Ben Arous
Nabeul
Zaghouan Hammamet
Le Kef
Siliana
Sousse
Kairouan Monastir
Mahdia
Sbeitla
Kasserine
Sidi Bou Zid
Sfax
Gafsa
Mediterranean
Sea
Tozeur
Gabès
Djerba
Kebili
Chott Djerid
Medenine
Tataouine
ALGERIA
LIBYA
0 50 100 Miles
0 50 100 Kilometers
Political Map of Tunisia, 2016
Drawn by Martin Hinze. Map data © 2017 Google, Inst. Geogr. Nacional.