The Tumultuous Transition

As Tunisia nears the sixth year of its 2011 popular revolution, the most challenging question is whether these massive protests led to a real change in the lives of the people. Although democratization could not come overnight, the unique successful transition in the Arab World, as it is thought of by many leaders in the U.S. and Europe, is undergoing complex challenges within Tunisia’s political, economic, and social system, making instability the main feature of the country’s transition.

Terrorism and the overall security environment have now trumped the economy and other issues, efforts aimed at reforming institutions did not benefit from the new democratic context, and the state’s capacity to deliver for its people is continuously challenged. However, on the path to democratic transition, the bumps in the road are more akin to a persistent problem of legitimacy, rather than just an institutional crisis. The overall picture of Tunisia’s revolution is somehow mitigated, offering a contrast between a troubled transition and the real potential to be realized.