The Islamic awakening movement (aka the 'Arab Spring') was a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests, riots, and civil wars in the Arab world that began on 18 December 2010 in Tunisia with the Tunisian Revolution and other Arab states.
Almost five years ago, thousands of Tunisians protestors, thronged to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country's fugitive dictator who had ruled Tunisia since 1987, in an act of defiance that would ripple across the Arab world and form a democratic government arising from the votes of the nation.
Now, five years have passed since the revolution in Tunisia and during the period, numerous challenges have faced the country in economic, security and partly political areas.
In recent weeks, wide protests have been held against the policies of Tunisia in some provinces including al-Qasrain. The protests have spread to the capital of the country, Tunis. In response to the events, Beji Caid Essebsi, the Tunisian President, has deemed it as the people’s natural right to protest against government policies adding “ISIL terrorists will no doubt exploit the recent unrest in the country.”
In an exclusive interview with Mehr News, the Tunisian analyst Rawa Kassem answered the questions regarding the latest developments in Tunisia and the political and security situation in the country:
Five years after the fall of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, is Tunisia better off or about the same? Has the political and security situation in the country experienced changes and developments?
The changes in Tunisia over the past five years can be divided into several parts; the first category pertains to developments of the economy and economic growth and the second to the changes in the security situation. With regard to economic issues, it can be said that after the overthrow of the former dictator, Tunisian authorities failed to offer any new economic gains for the youth in the country. Figures and statistics clearly indicate that the rate of unemployment has increased from 12 to 15 per cent over the previous years. Moreover, the rate of economic growth in the early years of the Tunisian Revolution has been below 15 per cent. Regarding the security situation, the country is facing more challenges after the revolution. In my opinion the only achievement of the Tunisian revolution has been observance of ‘freedom’; freedom that became more prominent, especially in the field of media. After the Tunisian revolution, freedom of expression turned into the main elements of the constitution.
Is the revolution over? Has it reached its ultimate objectives? Has the Tunisian Revolution lived up to expectations?
The Tunisian Revolution is not over and it hasn’t fulfilled all its aims. As mentioned previously, various difficulties have emerged in the field of economy over the past five years. In contrast, good events have taken place with regard to freedom for Tunisian citizens. Unfortunately, over the recent months, Neda Tunis as the country’s main political party has been dealing with political conflicts instead of focusing on major problems like youth unemployment. In my viewpoint, the massive protests held in recent weeks mark a warning to government authorities that another revolution might take place in an unexpected moment.
How would you evaluate world powers’ (including the US) administrations made during the Tunisian Revolution? Did they offer slow or inadequate response to the revolution?
I would like to point out an important issue. Although Tunisia achieved great achievements after the revolution in 2011, some anomalies and challenges emerged in various areas in the country. After the revolution, we found ourselves in front of so many foreign countries such as the US. The American government has always tried to apply various policies and strategies to challenge the traditional and historic role of France in Tunisia. Some existing information suggests that America’s most important goal is to establish a military base in North Africa for greater mobility in the region.
What do you think of the future of the revolution?
Tunisians have proven to be able to endure all the hardships of post-revolution. They saved the country from civil war by adopting the policy of ‘reconciliation’. You know very well that what happened in Tunisia is totally different from what is now underway in Syria, Libya and other countries. I believe that Tunisia, with its civilized history, can breeze past all the problems and difficulties arriving at ‘beach of peace and quiet.’
What do you think is the greatest threat to Arab democracy? Political fragmentation and immaturity, lack of strong institutions, Arab dictators, economic challenges, or the US?
It is true that what is currently happening in the Arab world is resulting from the chaos scenario proposed by America's former secretary of state, but we should deny the rich history of tyranny in Arabic countries. Uniform political scene in many countries has led young people to the streets in protest and in pursuit of their wishes. In many Arabic countries, there exist ravages of the economic situation while the country's wealth remains in the hands of tyrants. However, the projects of foreign countries were implemented in the Arabic countries and the emerging revolutions in these countries have been replaced by foreign plots.
Do you esteem that the Tunisia is in need of a “Marshall Plan”; particularly, with regard to the recent protests against unemployment?
The Marshall Plan is a Western plot and Tunisia is a traditional and deep-rooted country. Tunisia possesses various strategies to resolve ongoing problems and crises and can efficiently make use of these strategies. In my opinion, failed schemes cannot be used again. In addition, it is also necessary to note that the situation in Tunisia is much better compared to the disastrous situation of neighbors. In general, compared to many Arabic countries, the situation in Tunisia is better in terms of unemployment and poverty. I personally believe that the West is in need of a resolution to the crisis in Tunisia since any threat to the Tunisian security exerts a direct effect on Europe's security.
Was the Tunisian Revolution more about political freedoms or economic issues or both?
Popular uprising in Tunisia initially set out to achieve economic growth in the country. Gradually, over the course of time, the demands of protestors from the former dictator increased until they called for serious political reform in areas like freedom and democracy. After some external interventions suppressed the demands of the people, overthrow of the former dictator of Tunisia turned into the ultimate request of the people. United States of America fully came to realize that the war against Tunisia would be very costly similar to the policy adopted towards Iraq. Therefore, the US opted for a different strategy to stifle the voice of Tunisian people in the bud.
What is the biggest challenge of post-revolution rebuilding in Tunisia?
The biggest challenge facing Tunisia is establishment of a strategic transformation in the country's economic and political fields. Policies need to be adopted that would not end up in demonstrations of thousands of young Tunisians in protest against unemployment. Perhaps the most important challenge is how to increase the economic growth rate to around 6 per cent a year. Other future challenges in Tunisia include application of strategies to tackle unemployment as well as the complete destruction of terrorism.
Rawa Kassem is a Tunisian political analyst who writes columns for al-Ahd news agency.
Interview by: Mohammad Mazhari & Mohammad Hossein Azari
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