Tunisia Presentación

For years, Tunisia was known mostly as the most European country of North Africa, with a relatively large middle class, liberal social norms, broad gender equality and welcoming Mediterraneanbeaches. But in January 2011, it took center stage as the launching pad of the wave of revolt that swept through the Arab world and beyond.

For all its modern traits, Tunisia had one of the mostrepressive governments in a region full of police states, and levels of corruption among its elite that became intolerable once the economic malaise that gripped southern Europe spread to the country.

Theuprising began in December 2010, when a fruit vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in the impoverished town of Sidi Bouzid to protest his lack of opportunity and the disrespect of the police.In what became known as the Jasmine Revolution, a sudden and explosive wave of street protests ousted the authoritarian president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled with an iron hand for 23years. On Jan. 14, Mr. Ben Ali left the country, after trying unsuccessfully to placate the demonstrators with promises of elections. According to government figures issued later, 78 protesters died and94 were injured during the demonstrations.

In the months after the revolution, Tunisia struggled with continued instability, new tensions between Islamicists and secular liberals and astill-limping economy. But of all the Arab states, it may have been the best positioned for a successful transition to a liberal democracy, with its relatively small, homogenous population of about 12 million,comparatively high levels of education, an apolitical military, a moderate Islamist movement and a long history of a unified national identity.

In the country’s first free election in October 2011,millions of Tunisians cast votes for an assembly to draft a constitution and shape a new government. The moderate Islamist party Ennahda — whose name means the renaissance in Arabic — emerged as the...