The Foreign Service Journal, May 2012

M A Y 2 0 1 2 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 27 F OCUS ON THE A RAB S PR ING T UNISIA ’ S I DENTITY C RISIS lthough Tunisia was the first Arab Spring country to overthrow its longtime dictator, its revolution was overshadowed by the upris- ing in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the conflict in Libya and the crackdown in Syria. By comparison, the Tunisian Revolution, while dramatic, has led to relative stability. Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country quickly and of his own accord on Jan. 14, 2011. The Oct. 23 constituent assembly elections proceeded smoothly and were heralded as a model for other transitional democracies. Despite an increasingly polarized debate between Islamist and secular ele- ments, Tunisia’s transition thus far has been smooth. The Islamist Ennahda (“Renaissance”) Party won an impressive 40 percent of the seats in the October vot- ing, ushering in a profound and positive change for those who had not felt free to practice their religion under the Ben Ali government. But many secular Tunisians continue to view Ennahda with suspicion, fearing that the party has a hidden Islamist agenda. The emergence of a small, but vocal, Salafist movement has further inflamed fears that increasing religiosity poses a threat to life as they know it. Tunisians are questioning what it means to be Tunisian, even as they attempt to reconcile the role of religion in what had been a staunchly secular society. And as this debate continues, they are increasingly dis- appointed and frustrated with the lack of progress on key economic and social issues. The economy remains weak, with growing inflation and an unemployment rate that is higher than before the revolution. Foreign and domestic investment are both at a standstill, as investors wait for signs that the economy is improving. To succeed, democracy will need to deliver tangible results, not just talk. The United States has an impor- tant role to play in assisting the Tunisian government to address these challenges. A New, but Divided, Society Those who spent time in Ben Ali’s Tunisia will scarcely recognize the country of today. Known for its T UNISIANS ARE ATTEMPTING TO RECONCILE THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN WHAT HAD BEEN A STAUNCHLY SECULAR SOCIETY . B Y V ICTORIA T AYLOR Victoria Taylor, a Foreign Service officer since 2003, is cur- rently an international affairs fellow in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. She has previously served in Tunis, Lahore and Islamabad, and on the Iran and Turkey desks in the department. The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. government.