Tunisia: democracy and Islam in post-Arab Spring politics

Since the ousting of the former regime and the first free and fair elections in 2011 in Tunisia, political Islamist parties have been in the majority. The ruling party did not have a mandate, which necessitated concessions. Nonetheless, religion, balanced with a history of institutional secularism enforced by a dictator, has impacted the creation of a democracy. Inequality and repression drove protestors to the streets to demand new governance. These problems, along with religion and societal norms, influence the meaning of democracy in Tunisia. This paper will explore the thin lines between religion, democracy and the everyday politics of Tunisia, most notably found in political history, citizens’ attitudes, and the implementation of a new Constitution. It will argue that Tunisia maintains democracy but not in the traditional Western understanding of institutional democracy. Instead, it combines elements of religion and polity