Tunisia Under Ben Ali: A History of an Authoritarian Regime, 1987-2011

(Hardback)

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Here, Daniel Zisenwine looks at Tunisia under the rule of Ben Ali, from 1987 when he rose to power until the 2011 protests that led to his downfall.

Sparked by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia, a wave of protests and uprisings spread across North Africa and the Middle East in late 2010 and 2011. The case of Tunisia has since been held up as an example of a successful revolution, ousting its erstwhile ruler Zayn al-Abidin Ben Ali, leading to relatively free elections in October 2011. Zisenwine offers an analysis of this authoritarian regime from its early days, to the attempts in the 2000s to reform economically (but not, crucially, politically) and the societal discontent that eventually led to the 2011 protests. This book is vital for those researching the Middle East and North Africa, as well as for those interested in the anatomy of authoritarian regimes and their downfall.

Reviews

A highly readable and well balanced account of Tunisias political, social, and economic trajectory from the post-Bourguiba years to the Arab Spring that sealed its subjects fate. * Kenneth J. Perkins, Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina, US *

Zisenwines book is a concise, potent introduction to Tunisia during Ben Alis reign. Its smooth
and accessible prose provides a gentle introduction for both students and generalist readers to
this countrys complex, fascinating political history.

Author Bio

Daniel Zisenwine is a Research Fellow at the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.