Description
Tunisia. Women at the heart of the transition
Book summary
This essay analyzes the central role of civil society and, especially, of Tunisian women in the democratic transition that followed the fall of the Ben Ali dictatorship in 2011. Written by José Ramón Bernabeu Urbina, a direct witness to the events, the work offers a journey through the recent history of Tunisia, examining how the women's question and women's organizations became defining elements of the country's new collective identity. The book also addresses the role of international cooperation before, during, and after the revolts that marked the beginning of the Arab Spring.
What is it about?
The work delves into the complex reality of Tunisia after the popular uprising of 2011, which put an end to the dictatorship of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and triggered the wave of revolts known as the Arab Spring. The author, with an eyewitness perspective, analyzes the revolutionary process and the subsequent democratic transition. The core of the analysis focuses on the role played by Tunisian civil society, with a particular emphasis on women and feminist organizations. The book explores how these social actors have been fundamental in defining the collective identity of the new Tunisia, facing crucial debates about the role of Islam, human rights, and secularism in the configuration of the State. Furthermore, the influence of international cooperation in this process of political and social change is examined.
Main themes
- Democratic transition in Tunisia after the Arab Spring.
- Role of civil society and women's organizations in the revolution and post-revolution.
- The women's question as a central axis in the definition of the Tunisian national identity.
- Relationships between Islam, politics, and women's rights in the context of the transition.
- Impact and role of international cooperation in processes of political change.
- Analysis of corruption, political oppression, and the fight for civil rights and freedom of expression.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in comparative politics, the sociology of social movements, gender studies in the Arab world, and democratic transition processes. It is especially relevant for students, academics, journalists, and international cooperation professionals who seek to understand the role of women and civil society in shaping the new political realities of North Africa. It will also be of great value to anyone interested in the Arab Spring from a social and gender perspective, beyond conventional political analysis.
What this book offers
- A unique eyewitness perspective on the events of the Tunisian transition.
- An in-depth analysis focused on the often-invisibilized role of women as agents of political and social change.
- A detailed understanding of the complex interaction between civil society, religion, and the State in a post-revolutionary context.
- An assessment of the role of international cooperation as an external actor in democratization processes.
Technical sheet
- Author: Bernabeu Urbina, Jose Ramon
- Publisher: CIDEAL
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: RELIGIOUS ISSUES AND DEBATES, RELIGION AND POLITICS, ISLAM, SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROCESSES, FEMINISM AND FEMINIST THEORY, CORRUPTION IN SOCIETY, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION: GOVERNMENT AND STATE, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS, POLITICAL PARTIES, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, EU AND EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND EXPRESSION, POLITICAL OPPRESSION AND PERSECUTION, PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS AND MOVEMENTS, REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS AND MOVEMENTS
- Collection: PENDING COLLECTION
- Binding: Paperback
- Date of publication: July 2012
- Number of pages: 260
- Weight: 300 g
Editorial review
This is a work of great documentary and analytical value, which offers a rare look at a crucial historical moment. Its main strength lies in the focus on civil society and women as protagonists of change, an angle that enriches the understanding of the Tunisian transition beyond political leadership. The author's direct experience provides a credibility and depth that distinguish it from other more distant analyses. It is, therefore, essential reading for those seeking a complete and nuanced view of the social and political processes that defined post-revolutionary Tunisia.