Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism

Tunisia five years after the revolution: Was it worth it?

Posted on January 14, 2016 By rayhanania No Comments on Tunisia five years after the revolution: Was it worth it?
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Tunisia five years after the revolution: Was it worth it? International Institute for Management (IMD) Professor Tawfik Jelassi discusses the country’s progress and challenges

At the five-year mark after the Arab Spring uprisings, IMD Professor and former Tunisian minister Tawfik Jelassi talks about Tunisia today in an interview:

What comes to your mind when you think back to five years ago in Tunisia?

It was very moving. Millions of Tunisians never thought they would see a regime change and the end of Ben Ali’s dictatorship that lasted 23 years. All of us Tunisians were enthusiastic and completely behind the objectives of the Jasmine revolution, which was also a revolution for our freedom and dignity. It was very noble. We thought we were going to build a new open, democratic and prosperous Tunisia.

Professor Tawfik Jelassi
Professor Tawfik Jelassi

What do you think about how the Tunisian model is seen as the only Arab spring revolution that succeeded?

For me, the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in October 2015 to Tunisia shows that thanks to dialogue and consensus between the political parties and national organizations, Tunisia was able to overcome many of the obstacles it faced starting on the 14th of January 2011. Because of our rich history, culture and a well-developed educational system, Tunisians were able to undergo a transition without taking up guns but by sitting down at the negotiation table. We were able to arrive at a consensus, which we call the national dialogue’s road map. Tunisia was also able to successfully put in place a non-partisan, technocratic government in order to finalize the democratic transition in the country.

A lot of hard work remains. What are the biggest challenges for Tunisia?

The first challenge is economic. The country’s economic machine is out of order so to speak. Today, Tunisia is in recession with zero growth. This won’t help create the 80,000 new jobs needed to employ the country’s university graduates, without getting into what to do with the 800,000 people who are currently unemployed. Actually, tackling unemployment was one of the goals of the revolution. Buying power, especially for the less-fortunate parts of society, needs to be improved. We need to attract investment and reduce the development inequality between the different regions of the country. The revolution started in Sidi Bouzid, in the inlands where there is still a lot of poverty. All of the interior regions are now asking themselves if they made a lot of sacrifices to bring about revolution only to have less buying power, more unemployment, more insecurity and more terrorism. What are the benefits of this revolution for them? They see their day-to-day lives as having gotten worse rather than better.

If all that has changed is that there is more unemployment and extremism, is there any hope left?

The revolution was led by the youth and not by political parties. These youth were getting desperate. Scores of graduates who have done extensive studies can’t find work. Young people are not self-immolating anymore like Mohamed Bouazizi who sparked the revolution on December 17th, 2010. Now many of the youth are looking to join extremist groups, the Islamic State in Syria or terror cells in Lybia. There is a lot of desperation. The country is breaking down.

Is the government up to the security challenge?

The security situation is making Tunisia very fragile. There have recently been a number of major terror attacks. One at the Bardo national museum killed around 20 people including many tourists. One at a major hotel in Sousse had around 40 victims. There was also a recent attack in November on the presidential guard which had 12 victims. All of this happened within 8 months! Tourism, which is one of the top income generators for the country, has drastically declined. About 190 hotels have closed down and hundreds of thousands of people are affected by the drop in tourism. Security is the basis for development. If the country is not safe, there will be no international or even local investors. I tend to think that the government could be up to the challenge but it needs to do better. The growing number of terrorist attacks show that there are some gaps in the security system. The country’s intelligence services didn’t see these attacks coming. The November attack took place just a hundred meters away from the Minister of the Interior in the center of the capital city!

What are the positive things that have been gained five years after the revolution?

Tunisians have won freedom. Under Ben Ali, we couldn’t talk, couldn’t organize meetings, or create political parties or associations. Today we can do all of that. Media freedom, political freedom and personal freedom are big advances for Tunisia. But some people are asking if this freedom is worth having less buying power and more unemployment, terrorism and insecurity on a day-to-day basis. I personally think it’s worth it but that Tunisia is going through a difficult phase in its transition process. I’m not very optimistic about the next couple of years. Economically, Tunisia has to pay back its international loans while it doesn’t have any growth! And with the tourism sector at its knees, how can the country cope? However, I am more optimistic about the medium to long-term but we have a tough couple of years ahead of us.

Dr. Tawfik Jelassi is Professor of Strategy and Technology Management. From January 2014 to February 2015, he served as Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Information & Communication Technologies in the transition Government of Tunisia. This article is based on a French-language interview carried out on Swiss Radio.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States - January 19, 2023
  • Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 - January 18, 2023
  • CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd - January 12, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Features, North Africa Tags:Arab Spring, Democracy, North Africa, Professor Tawfik Jelassi, Tunisia

Post navigation

Previous Post: Al Jazeera America to close, digital side to expand
Next Post: Theeb, Arabic language film, nominated for Oscar

Related Posts

  • Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J, Abbas (L) and FII Institute CEO Richard Attias.
    Arab News, FII Institute partner to shed light on the future of regional media industry Arab World
  • President Trump at UN Sept 25 2018. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Personal Reflections of a Lebanese American on Trump Power and Civil Discord Bloggers
  • Media Twists Facts to Make Israel Look Good in Conflict With Palestinians American Arabs
  • A Palestinian inspects damage to his home caused by Israeli air and missile fire Monday June 26, 2017. Photo courtesy of Mohammed Asad. All Rights Reserved
    Israel terrorizes Gaza civilians in air strikes as Ramadan ends Arab World
  • Donald Trump sworn in as President, courtesy the White House
    The Majoritarian Evil Creeps into Senate, Congress and the Administration American Arabs
  • A World Lost: Escape From Yarmouk Arab World

More Related Articles

Tlaib slips through Black divide to win Congressional seat American Arabs
Attacked by Israeli soldiers and armed Israeli settler terrorists, Palestinians respond with protests and rock throwing in the Gaza Strip. Photo copyright 2015 Mohammed Asad and The Arab Daily News Protests against Israeli embargo and occupation continue Arab World
Christian religious presence imposes itself in Jerusalem despite pressures from all sides. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania يجب على العرب أن يوقفوا التواصل بإسرائيل حتى تعترف بفلسطين Arab News
Palestinian group banned by Israel performs protest show Arab World
Focus on Substance: Here’s what’s happening at Mosque Abdennour Toumi
إحصاء السكان الأمريكي و حقوق العرب American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme