Tunisia Under Ben Ali - by Daniel Zisenwine (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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. Zisenwine offers an analysis of this authoritarian regime from its early days, to the attempts in the 2000s to reform economically 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"--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

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

"Zisenwine's book is a concise, potent introduction to Tunisia during Ben Ali's reign. Its smooth
and accessible prose provides a gentle introduction for both students and generalist readers to
this country's complex, fascinating political history." --Matt Buehler, Chair of Middle East Studies, University of Tennessee, US

About the Author

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