Podcasts about Tunisian Revolution

Emel Mathlouthi is a Tunisian musician whose song “Kelmti Horra” went viral in 2011 and became an anthem for the Tunisian Revolution during the Arab Spring.Her new album, ‘MRA,' calls for the continued fight for freedom on a global scale, but through an explicitly feminist lens. It was made by an all-women cast, from producers to musicians to engineers, and includes features from Malian rapper Ami Yerewolo, Brazilian producer Lyzza, Swedish-Iraqi rapper Nayomi, and more.Emel talks with KEXP's Isabel Khalili about why she chose to work exclusively with women on this album, what it was like being called “the voice of the Tunisian Revolution,” and the role of artists in social movements.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 1956 and 2011, Tunisia endured decades of authoritarian rule under Presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The Tunisian Revolution in 2011 led to the ousting of Ben Ali and catalysed the start of the institutional transitional justice process. Yet, mobilisation against authoritarian rule and the curtailment of basic freedoms also predated the establishment of this formal process. In this episode, our guests Houcine Bouchiba, Hamza Ben Nasr and Leila Bejaoui discuss how the participation and activism of victims, supported by victims' organisations and civil society, profoundly shaped the transitional justice process in Tunisia. Survivors and activists have played a pivotal role in pushing for accountability, supporting truth-seeking, and advocating for reform – despite facing numerous obstacles and waning public and political will. Houcine, Hamza and Leila speak to the realizations and setbacks of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) and the Specialized Criminal Chambers, whilst illustrating the importance of foregrounding gendered harms and socio-economic demands (for employment, and livelihoods) in the Tunisian context. At the same time, the events of July 2021 have caused widespread concern about the country's transitional justice trajectory. This also prompted our guests to reflect on how the current reality affects victims' experiences and trajectories, and how it pushes victims' organisations and civil society to reorganize in order to revitalize justice efforts and resist autocratization. This episode was realized in collaboration with Avocats Sans Frontières (Lawyers Without Borders), Tunis branch.

With testimonies from MSF in Gaza, this show is dedicated to those who put humanity at the centre. Over 24,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of this war, catalysed by Hamas, between Israel and Palestine. 70% of these are women and children. Over 7,000 people are under rubble. About 2 million people, about 85% of the population, are forcibly displaced. And the atrocious statistics keep on building. In this conversation I talk to the Luxembourg Director of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders), Thomas Kauffmann. We also have testimony from MSF workers on the ground in Gaza. Naturally in a situation of this magnitude there are losses of the MSF workforce too, alongside other humanitarian workers. "Where is the international community?" Sari Sisalem, a Palestinian resident in Luxembourg, is an International Development Specialist who worked on peace building projects between Palestinians and Israelis with a focus on water, energy, food security and climate change. He talks deeply about what it is like for his family and friends who are living through this in Gaza, and how they feel ignored by the international community as this is allowed to continue. Nathalie Oberweis is a member of the board of Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient for the last 14 years and talks about her constant commitment to working for peace in that region. They organise peaceful marches every Saturday in Luxembourg. Joining these guests is Emanuele Santi, co-founder and President of Afrilanthropy, a Luxembourg based charity incubating social innovations in Africa. Emanuele and his wife lived in Tunisia during the onset of the Arab Spring, and turned this first hand witness, undercover blog, into a book recounting the many heroes whose collective effort led to the Revolution. They saw, through this time, the power of the people when they rise together. The voices of the 'voiceless', so often assumed, can have impact. "Nearly a decade ago during these very days, Tunisia experienced one of the most exciting moments of the world's recent history. A popular revolt uniting all members of the Tunisian society toppled a longstanding dictator and triggered a wave of restlessness across North Africa and the Middle East, starting a common quest for freedom and dignity that was later labeled the Arab Spring." You can buy the book, Fear No More: Voices of the Tunisian Revolution at a large online bookstore, or at Ernster in Luxembourg, to support local bookshops. Revenues from the book sale will be devoted entirely social projects the authors are supporting. Subscribe to the Podcast and get in touch! You can subscribe to my podcast on Apple and Spotify. Please do rate and review too! Tune in on Today Radio Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon and Tuesdays at 10am.

Ormai più di dieci anni fa, la Tunisia era stata l'unico paese uscito bene dal fallimento generale della primavere arabe: in Tunisia la popolazione riuscì a cacciare il dittatore Ben Alì praticamente senza spargimenti di sangue, e il paese divenne una democrazia piuttosto libera e soprattutto laica. La Tunisia era l'unica democrazia del mondo arabo, e una speranza per tutti. Ma negli ultimi due anni, la democrazia della Tunisia ha subìto un processo di regressione molto grave: nel 2019 è stato eletto presidente Kais Saied, un politico che con pochi scrupoli ha cominciato a smontare pezzo per pezzo tutte le istituzioni tunisine, al punto che oggi non siamo più sicuri di poter ancora dire che l'unica democrazia del mondo arabo è ancora una democrazia.In questa puntata di Globo ne parliamo con Alissa Pavia, che è Associate Director per il programma Nord Africa all'Atlantic Council, che è uno dei più importanti centri studi degli Stati Uniti, con sede a Washington. L'ARTICOLO DI ALISSA PAVIA SULLE DIMISSIONI DI KAIS SAIED “It's time for Tunisia's president to resign. Here's why.” I CONSIGLI DI ALISSA PAVIA – La ONG tunisina al Bawsala – L'articolo “Four Possible Scenarios for Tunisia's Political Crisis” – Il libro “The Making of the Tunisian Revolution”, in particolare il capitolo 10 Globo è un podcast del Post condotto da Eugenio Cau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ILN Associate Director Tasnim Idriss and Mr. Salih Yasun discuss the similarities and differences between the Turkish and the Tunisian democratic experiences in the previous years, with a special focus on the Tunisian Revolution and the post-Kemalist Turkiye.

On December 17, 2010, Tunisian fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the Arab Uprisings. Coinciding with the 12th anniversary of his death, Tunisians head to the polls on Saturday for the second time this year. Over those years, Tunisia has seen new constitutions, changing governments, different presidents and deadlocked parliaments. All played out against a backdrop of terrorist attacks and food shortages. While politicians promise people a better tomorrow, there have been calls for boycotts and demonstrations in the week leading up to the polls. This week on Beyond the Headlines, host James Haines Young looks at what's next for Tunisia as it heads back to the ballot box.

Photo:  Mohamed Bouazizi was a street vendor who self-immolated on 17 December 2010 in response to the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. His terrifying deed became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against autocratic regimes. To see him afire: http://rudebutgood.blogspot.com/2011/12/mohamed-bouazizi.html #Tunisia: The original Arab Spring fails. @JoshRogin @WashingtonPost https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/03/biden-administration-neglecting-tunisia-democracy-saied/

Čháŋ Óhaŋ Among the Trees aka Chief Crazy Horse had visions, on was that someday the Lakota would rise again and be a blessing for a sick world. He saw a time when all the colours of mankind would gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and seek its wisdom. Crazy Horse foresaw the Lakota being central to the coming together of all people. And this, I believe, is what is happening. We are at a crossroads where, as Thunder said, “being a better human being,” is not only a desired goal but now vital to our shared coexistence on this planet. This Ophiuchus season of Fire and water shows itself in the passions of the emotionally brave and unfortunately in this action taken by a Melbourne woman who tried to kill herself by pouring petrol over her car and setting herself alight while carrying a sign saying “NO ONE CARES, MANDATES ARE KILLING US”. Eleven years ago this happened whilst our Sun was in Ophiuchus: Tarek el-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi (Arabic: طارق الطيب محمد البوعزيزي‎, romanized: Ṭāriq aṭ-Ṭayib Muḥammad al-Būʿazīzī; 29 March 1984 – 4 January 2011) was a street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010 in Ben Arous, Tunisia, which became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against autocratic regimes. His self-immolation was in response to the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. My heart goes out to their souls. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/akacloudetteskystrologyy/message

Photo: Tarek el-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi  (29 March 1984 – 4 January 2011) was a street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010 in Ben Arous, Tunisia, which became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against autocratic regimes. His self-immolation was in response to the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. Here: his last days; screen grab.  CBS Eyes on the World with John Batchelor CBS Audio Network @Batchelorshow Tunisia sheds democracy to popular acclaim. Roger McShane @TheEconomist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/28/the-way-out-of-tunisias-crisis?utm_medium=pr&utm_source=us-e

Ten years on from the Arab Spring, the musician dubbed ‘the voice of the revolution' has rediscovered her musical roots during lockdown. Emel Mathlouthi talks to Nawal Al-Maghafi about her new found perspective on her home country, the Tunisian Revolution and the song that spread hope. When the protestors took to the streets of Cairo in 2011 political murals and graffiti soon followed, providing a visual commentary of the Egyptian Revolution. One of the most prominent street artists was Ganzeer, whose murals became emblematic of the protests. He tells us how a particular mural provided a political battleground for local residents. How has the Arab Spring been reflected through fiction? Yasmine El Rashidi is the Egyptian author of Chronicle of a Last Summer which follows a young girl who lives through the Mubarak regime and 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Mohammed Alnaas' short story collection Blue Bloods explores the psychological impact of surviving the Libyan Civil War . They join Nawal to discuss processing historic change and trauma through fiction. Plus finding your voice when your country is in conflict - we speak to a Yemeni photographer about capturing the everyday stories of the people living in a divided nation. Presented by Nawal Al-Maghafi (Photo: Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi. Credit: Tommy Lindholm/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Arab Spring is often called the Twitter Revolution, but who were the people behind the keyboard sending all those tweets? And, maybe more importantly, who were the people reading and acting on the calls to protest they saw on social media?  This week we follow along with Lina Ben Mhenni and other bloggers and activists who were crucial to making the Tunisian Revolution a success. 

Where were you on the day that changed the course of the 21st century?  I'm not talking about 9/11, but about January 14, 2011, ten years ago today. You don't remember? Then you're not going to want to miss this story. 

Roifield speaks of the creators of Revolution 1 a new podcast about the story of the Tunisian Revolution — the uprising that ignited the Arab Spring — to life through the voices of those who lived it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 103: Memoirs, Memory, and the History of the Tunisian Left In this podcast, Dr.Idriss Jebari contemplates the outpouring of memory from the former leftists of the Perspectives movement, following the 2011 Tunisian Revolution. In a series of published memoirs, the likes of Gilbert Naccache, Fethi Ben Haj Yahia and others take their readers from their experience of prison in the sixties and seventies, as well as their reflections on critical moments of Tunisia's political transition, particularly transitional justice and national reconciliation. Through these memoirs, Dr. Jebari explores how they could help write new histories for the Tunisian people: one that is plural and democratic. On the ten-year anniversary of the Revolution, after unprecedented transformations and the global pandemic, we are reminded of the fleeting nature of memory in light of the tragic passing of several figures from the Maghrib's past.  Dr. Idriss Jebari is Al Maktoum Assistant Professor in Middle East Studies at Trinity CollegeDublin. His work investigates the distinctiveness of the Maghribi critique of modernity in contemporary Arab intellectual and cultural history. He completed a doctorate on the history of the production of critical thought in Morocco and Tunisia at the University of Oxford on the intellectual projects of Moroccan thinker Abdallah Laroui and Tunisian thinker Hichem Djaït. He then held an Arab Council for Social Sciences postdoctoral fellowship at the American University of Beirut to study the dynamics of intellectual and cultural exchanges between the Maghrib and the Mashriq after 1967. He has published on the intellectual projects of several North African intellectual figures such as Abdelkebir Khatibi, Mohamed Abed al-Jabri and Malek Bennabi, and how the younger generations remember this intellectual heritage and the Arab Left. He is currently working on his first book manuscript that will address the critical societal debates that shaped North Africa's path today modernity in the sixties and seventies. This podcast was recorded between Tunis and Dublin on January 8, 2021, by the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT) and the Centre d'Études Maghrébines en Algérie (CEMA) and is part of the special podcast series, "The Ten-Year Anniversary of Tunisia's Revolution (January 14, 2021)." The podcast was introduced by Dr. Robert P. Parks, CEMA Director. We thank Yesser Jradi for his interpretation of "Narja3lk dima." A talented artist, Yesser is a painter, musician with interests in cinema and theatre. Posted by Hayet Lansari, Librarian, Outreach Coordinator, Content Curator (CEMA).

Human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf discusses President-elect Joe Biden’s nominations to fill government positions in his administration, and their impact on the progressive movement in the Democratic Party. She also talks about Biden’s policies in the Middle East and his position towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jess & Jamal discuss the impact left on the Middle East after the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire ten years ago, sparking the Tunisian Revolution that became the catalyst for the Arab Spring.

خلال وما بعد الثورة التونسية، ساد إحساس بحرية مطلقة وصارت تجارب فريدة من الناحية التنظيمية، كانت تجارب فنية وسياسية وإنتاجية، وكانت مخبر تجريبي في أنماط التنظيم والخلق. باختلافها، كانت تتقاطع في أنها: أفقية، تلقائية، وقتية. هذه الحلقة تبحث في ثلاث تجارب من هذه الأفقيات الوقتية: أهل الكهف، بلاش حس، صعاليك. ما الذي ساهم في خلق هذه التجارب؟ ماذا فعلت في الأمر الواقع؟ ما هي علاقتها بالأفقية؟ ما كان مصيرها؟ البداية. ما قبل البداية. التجربة. ما بعد التجربة.كتابة وتحرير وتسجيل وتأليف موسيقي: رفيق رزين، آي كاي آي ديناصور.المواد المستخدمة في المحتوى الصوتي:ديناصور - قايلة في سويومخبر متجول - شهيق و زفير - ديناصورارمادا تونس - حروفمهدي الحامدي - غريبةصعاليك - لا سلام. اغنية تسجلت في بلاش حس. البدائل" هي السلسلة الثانية من بودكاست #مدوّنات، نبحث خلالها في جغرافيا المبادرات الفردية والتشاركية عن آثار تشكّل في متشابهاتها هوية أو موجة فكرية جديدة، ونظهر حاضر ومستقبل ممارسات ثقافية في المنطقة.بودكاست «مدوّنات» هو أرشيف حيّ يجمع في مساهماته توثيقًا للفضاء الثقافي المعاصر في المنطقة العربية.هذه الحلقة من مشروع «مدوّنات» هي من إنتاج المورد الثقافي والمجلس الثقافي البريطاني. محتوى هذا البودكاست لا يعبّر بالضرورة عن رؤية أو أفكار أيّ من المؤسستين.‎أشرف على إنتاج ونشر هذا المشروع «صوت».الثيمة الموسيقيّة: Blue Lantern - Yi Nantiroهذا المصنف متاح وفقا لشروط الترخيص العام للمشاع الإبداعي نَسب المُصنَّف - غير تجاري - منع الاشتقاق 3.0 غير موطَّنة (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)The outburst of freedoms that was the Tunisian Revolution unleashed unique organizational experiences in arts, politics and productivity. It was a vast laboratory in different modes of planning and creativity. As diverse as they were, they intersected in being transversal, spontaneous and temporal. In this episode, we look at three of experiments in these temporal transversalities: the Ahl El Kahf street art collective, the Blech 7es collaborative music studio and the rights activist NGO Sa3alik. What spurred their creation? How have they contributed to change? In what ways are they transversal. Where are they now? The beginning and beforehand. The experiment and afterwards.Writing, editing, recording and composing: Rafik Rezine AKA Daynassour In "Alternatives”, the second series of #Mudawanat podcast, we look into the geography of individual and collective initiatives to find similar traces that form a new identity or intellectual movement while exposing the present and future of these regional cultural practices.Mudawanat is a living archive of contributions that document the contemporary culture scene in the Arab region.The Mudawanat project is co-produced by Culture Resource and the British Council. The content of this podcast does not necessarily express the views or ideas of either organization.Production and publishing for this project is supervised by Sowt.General theme music: Blue Lantern - Yi NantiroThis work is published under the terms of the Creative Commons licence - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Sami Zemni (Ghent) gives a talk on the Tunisian Revolution on its 10 year anniversary. Part of the Middle East Centre Friday Seminar Series, chaired by Dr Michael Willis (St Anthony's College). On the eve of its ten year anniversary, Sami Zemni reflects on the outcomes of the Tunisian Revolution. Touted as the only success story of the Arab Uprisings, Tunisia is facing a major economic crisis, social instability and political paralysis while nostalgia for authoritarian rule seems on the rise. Is there anything to celebrate? Sami Zemni is professor of Political and Social Sciences at Ghent University (Belgium) where he heads the Middle East and North Africa Research Group (MENARG). His research focuses on issues of political change in North Africa (Morocco and Tunisia), more specifically he currently focuses on processes of marginalization and uneven development leading to different forms of urban and rural resistance.

Professor Sami Zemni (Ghent) gives a talk on the Tunisian Revolution on its 10 year anniversary. Part of the Middle East Centre Friday Seminar Series, chaired by Dr Michael Willis (St Anthony's College). On the eve of its ten year anniversary, Sami Zemni reflects on the outcomes of the Tunisian Revolution. Touted as the only success story of the Arab Uprisings, Tunisia is facing a major economic crisis, social instability and political paralysis while nostalgia for authoritarian rule seems on the rise. Is there anything to celebrate? Sami Zemni is professor of Political and Social Sciences at Ghent University (Belgium) where he heads the Middle East and North Africa Research Group (MENARG). His research focuses on issues of political change in North Africa (Morocco and Tunisia), more specifically he currently focuses on processes of marginalization and uneven development leading to different forms of urban and rural resistance.

Events leading upto and in the Arab Spring of 2011

Episode 69: Educational Transitions in Post-Revolutionary Spaces: Islam, Security, and Social Movements in Tunisia In this podcast, Dr. Tavis D. Jules is interviewed on his recent book, Educational Transitions in Post-Revolutionary Spaces : Islam, Security and Social Movements in Tunisia, co-authored with Dr. Teresa Barton. Jules and Barton trace the development of Tunisia’s educational system to the 2010/2011 contestatory events that led to the Tunisian Revolution and embarked on a period of large-scale institutional reform, including education sector reform. This post-Revolutionary reform has primarily been concerned with providing young Tunisian citizens with the necessary skills for a rapidly changing job market.  In his presentation, Jules engages with the issue of how a strong educational system produced generations of educated citizens, but whose most recent generation is frustrated by a weakened socio-economic system unable to absorb a young and educated workforce.  The book itself traces the history and evolution of Tunisia’s educational system since independence in 1956 to the contemporary period,  and ties its analysis to an « educational transitologies framework ». Through several chapters, the book engages and explores themes related to education, including security, gender, political Islam and social movements and analyses these comparatively pre- and post-political transition which commenced in 2011.  In this podcast, Dr. Jules was invited to answer a number of questions touching upon the following themes :  Definition of the concept of conscientization and its importance to understand the role of education. The common link that the book draws between education and Islam, security and social movements.  The book’s methodology to study 'educational transitologies' and what the example of Tunisia tells us about this theoretical framework.  Dr. Tavis D. Jules is Associate Professor in Cultural and Educational Policy at Loyola University, specializing in Comparative and International Education. His research interests include, regionalism and governance, transitory spaces, and policy challenges in small island developing states (SIDS). CEMAT Assistant Director Dr. Meriem Guetat, CEMAT led the interview, which was recorded as part of the Contemporary Thought series on December 13th, 2018 at the Centre d'Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT). Posted by Hayet Lansari, Librarian, Outreach Coordinator, Content Curator (CEMA).

We chat to Aya Chebbi, the first Youth Envoy for the African Union. Recently voted one of the world's top 20 most influential young people in government, Aya first became known for her online activism, running the Proudly Tunisian blog during the Tunisian Revolution in 2010/11.Now the first Youth Envoy for the African Union, Aya is championing the voice of young people and underrepresented groups as part of Agenda 2063. We chat to Aya about her efforts supporting thousands of social movement leaders, feminist groups, and youth activists on blogging, mobilisation, and non-violence. We get Aya's thoughts on privilege and power in the internet age, and why digital inclusion is so important. We also hear Aya's reflections on mental health, authentic leadership, and being your radical self. A truly inspirational listen!

Moncef Marzouki (Former President of the Republic of Tunisia, 2011-2014) gives the annual George Antonius Memorial Lecture.

Today's interview is with Samantha Miles. Samantha is a multimedia journalist whose work has appeared in various newsrooms in Colorado, Texas, and Columbia Nightly News in New York City. She has also written for several online publications, and won awards for her journalism in the Arab Spring Uprisings for her piece - "The Jasmine Flowers: Women of the Tunisian Revolution," where she interviewed women rewriting the Tunisian constitution after the revolution. She has written about women from various cultures covering issues of domestic violence, social justice, and beauty pressures. We discuss her journey to journalism, passion for cover untold stories and why she thinks diversity and inclusion is so important. Catch her on Twitter:@SamanthaMM_ https://twitter.com/SamanthaMM_ Her documentary on the dangers of skin bleaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU5TtkT_7kM See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Speaker: Sami Zemni, Middle East and North Africa Research Group Chair: John Chalcraft, LSE In this seminar, Sami Zemni presents his paper, co-written with Habib Ayeb, titled: Between Hegemony and Resistance: towards a moral economy of the Tunisian Revolution. The revolutionary upheavals in Tunisia and across the MENA which began in 2011 have fundamentally challenged the frameworks traditionally used to define and interpret Arab political life, namely ‘authoritarian resilience’ and/or ‘democratization studies’. The paper uses a ‘moral economy’ approach in order to understand the massive mobilizations that led to Ben Ali’s disappearance, and to make sense of the nature of political change in the post-Ben Ali era. Recorded on 20 October 2015. This event forms part of the Social Movements and Popular Mobilisation in the MENA event series.

Ronald Judy (University of Pittsburgh) gives the second talk in Panel 3: Locating the Tunisian Revolution and Its International Dimension, part of The Tunisian Revolution: Origins, Course and Aftermath

Gilbery Achcar (SOAS) gives the first talk in Panel 3: Locating the Tunisian Revolution and Its International Dimension, part of The Tunisian Revolution: Origins, Course and Aftermath

Abdelwahed Mokni (University of Sfax) gives the first talk in Panel 2: The Actors of the Revolution, part of The Tunisian Revolution: Origins, Course and Aftermath

With Nouri Gana (UCLA), Amy Kallander (Syracuse University) and Francesco Cavatorta (Universite' Laval, Quebec, Canada)

After a 26 year old Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in 2010 in protest of the political and economic restrictions he faced, the Tunisian Revolution forced then-President Ben Ali to leave power after having held on to it for 23 years. Since early 2011, much of the Middle East has gone through a series of significant events often called the Arab Spring. Tunisia has held elections, faced political assassinations, and last month, saw the governing Islamist party agree to step down from power. Dr. Wassim Daghrir of the University of Sousse in Tunisia explains how his country continues to struggle with the challenges of the transition to democracy.

After a 26 year old Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in 2010 in protest of the political and economic restrictions he faced, the Tunisian Revolution forced then-President Ben Ali to leave power after having held on to it for 23 years. Since early 2011, much of the Middle East has gone through a series of significant events often called the Arab Spring. Tunisia has held elections, faced political assassinations, and last month, saw the governing Islamist party agree to step down from power. Dr. Wassim Daghrir of the University of Sousse in Tunisia explains how his country continues to struggle with the challenges of the transition to democracy.

The Tunisian revolution had taken the world by surprise. Never before in the history of the modern Arab world had a grassroots uprising toppled an entrenched dictator of Ben Ali's caliber and longevity without recourse to any form of established ideology or political party nor to foreign intervention, which has until recently been bandied about as the only midwife to real democracy in the Arab world. The aim of this talk is to reflect on the making of the Tunisian revolution with particular focus on the role of culture as a vehicle of popular discontent against the regime before and after the revolution. Literature, cinema, poetry and music kept alive the critical repository on which the mass mobilization of Tunisians hinged. The talk will conclude by assessing the challenges and prospects for the success of the Tunisian revolution both in the near and far future.