Tunisia Live » Op-ed Contributor

Polish Fighter Pilots and the Question of History in Tunisia

Op-ed Contributor — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:47:57 +0000

Poland’s wish to commemorate its fighters’ contribution to the victory over German forces in Tunisia during the Second World War has brought to light the difficult relationship between the Tunisian government and the country’s history. The Polish Embassy in Tunisia recently organized a ceremony to commemorate the exploits of 18 Polish fighter pilots who in [...]

The post Polish Fighter Pilots and the Question of History in Tunisia appeared first on Tunisia Live.

A Tunisian’s Guide to Life on the Outside

Op-ed Contributor — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:41:41 +0000

Living outside your home country is not easy for anyone. Whether you are thinking about moving abroad, or you’re like me and haven’t had the luxury of growing up in Tunisia, life for an expat can sometimes feel like a struggle. Being somewhat of an expert on the matter, I have decided to help out [...]

The post A Tunisian’s Guide to Life on the Outside appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Muslim Women Take on Topless Activists

Op-ed Contributor — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:49:19 +0000

Last month, Femen, the self-proclaimed “naked shock troops of feminism,” carried out “International Topless Jihad Day.” The justification for the event was supposed persecution of a Tunisian Femen member known as “Amina,” who had posted topless pictures of herself defying traditional morals online. The larger, greater reason for the group’s supposedly selfless act of compassion was, as [...]

The post Muslim Women Take on Topless Activists appeared first on Tunisia Live.

The Real Reason Prices are High in Tunisia

Op-ed Contributor — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:24:48 +0000

In this article I will talk about inflation, or as economists define it, “the percentage increase in the average level of prices.” This commentary will be unusual in that I will imagine how an eminent American economist, Milton Friedman (1912–2006), would react to the explanations given by the central bank of Tunisia (henceforth, the Bank) [...]

The post The Real Reason Prices are High in Tunisia appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Beyond Femen in Tunisia

Op-ed Contributor — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:53:00 +0000

The women of the Ukrainian group Femen are used to drawing the attention of the media with their half-naked protests. Since 2008, the mostly young women who demonstrate with their breasts covered in militant slogans have provided fodder for heated discussions. And that is intentional. Defenders of the group claim the calculated provocation serves to [...]

The post Beyond Femen in Tunisia appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Tunisian Media Since 2011: A Work in Progress

Op-ed Contributor — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:53:02 +0000

As I watch Tunisian television and read Tunisian newspapers today, I see they have come a long way. This is refreshing and inspiring, but issues remain regarding the media environment developing since the revolution. I vividly remember how, when former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali announced he was stepping down January 14, 2011, the [...]

The post Tunisian Media Since 2011: A Work in Progress appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Reflecting on Bourguiba, 13 Years after his Death

Op-ed Contributor — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:00:16 +0000

Tunisia gained its independence in 1956, largely thanks to the efforts of former President Habib Bourguiba, who died 13 years ago this past Saturday. His fight against French domination earned him the nickname “Supreme Warrior” of the nation. Hailed as the savior of the country, he became the first president of the new Republic of [...]

The post Reflecting on Bourguiba, 13 Years after his Death appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Chokri Belaid: The Making Of A Myth

Op-ed Contributor — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:21:36 +0000

The assassination of opposition political leader Chokri Belaid on February 6 shook Tunisia and shocked its people. And the question that tormented millions of Tunisians remains unanswered six weeks later: “Who killed Chokri Belaid?” The most optimistic among us will say that it is only a matter of time, Tunisia is a small country and [...]

The post Chokri Belaid: The Making Of A Myth appeared first on Tunisia Live.

Tunisia’s National Memory of Sufism: From its Origins to the Present Destruction of Ancient Shrines

Op-ed Contributor — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:02:43 +0000

History is experienced in the present through our collective memories, and our feelings about the past are part of its truth. The legacy of Sufism is as integral to Tunisian history as it is to its contemporary reality. Yet, that legacy is in danger of being lost. As an American married to a Tunisian, it [...]

The post Tunisia’s National Memory of Sufism: From its Origins to the Present Destruction of Ancient Shrines appeared first on Tunisia Live.

The Arab Spring: A U-Turn in the Modernization Path or a Simple Adjustment?

Op-ed Contributor — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:09:50 +0000

Roughly two years on from the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, we begin to develop some perspective on the victories of Ennahdha and the Muslim Brotherhood in their first post-revolutionary elections. According to many international observers, the elections in both countries have been free, fair, and without major fraud for the first time since their [...]

The post The Arab Spring: A U-Turn in the Modernization Path or a Simple Adjustment? appeared first on Tunisia Live.