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Nothing is Irreversible: Women in Tunisian Politics Before and After the Arab Spring
Abstract
This paper compares Tunisian women’s rights and political involvement before and after the Arab Spring. I begin by examining the history of women’s rights in Tunisia, by looking at historical legislation and journal and news articles. I then use current news coverage to examine the effects of more recent legislation and elections. I then look at women’s involvement during the Arab Spring, and finally at the ways the recent democratic election have affected and included women. Long a leader in the Arab world in terms of women’s issues, democracy has provided new challenges and opportunities for Tunisia. During the first round of elections, Islamists, as represented by the Ennahda Party, were very popular, which led to fears of negative effects on women’s rights and political participation. The new government’s ability to create a constitution via compromise that women’s rights activists and the leading Islamists agree on can provide an example for other countries in the region. I conclude that democracy in Tunisia need not come at the expense of women, despite the initial popularity of Islamists. In the last election, the Islamists peacefully stepped down in favor of a secularist party. This highlights both the moderation of the Islamist party in question, and the ability of the Tunisian people to influence politics via the democratic process. Tunisia is a rare fledgling democracy in a region that seems to be ever more violent and undemocratic, and is therefore worthy of closer examination.
Discipline
International Relations/Affairs
Geographic Area
Tunisia
Sub Area
None