by Enrique Klaus

Chapter"Transitional Bodies, Party Politics, and Anti-Democratic Potential: The Case of HAICA" in "A Fledging Democracy: Tunisia in the Aftermath of the Arab Uprisings" edited by Mohamed Zayani, Hurst and Oxford University Press.


In the tumultuous aftermath of the Arab uprisings, Tunisia charted a unique path that has earned it praise as "a beacon of hope" in a troubled region. Since the 2011 revolution, it has embraced a new culture of democracy, based on pluralism, civilian rule and the peaceful transfer of power. Equally noteworthy are the country's burgeoning civil society, its various institutional reforms and its progressive new constitution, which upholds individual freedoms and champions women's rights.

But in spite of these achievements, daunting challenges remain. Although Tunisia has succeeded in defusing many crises, its transition has been uneasy; its democracy is fragile and its future continues to be uncertain. As the country emerges from decades of authoritarian rule, it faces enormous political, social, economic and security challenges, which are undermining its peaceful evolution. It is this state of fragility that A Fledgling Democracy seeks to capture.

Focusing on the socio-political dynamics that have unfolded in this North African nation since the revolution, the contributors to this volume shed light on how Tunisia has navigated its first decade of democratic transition, and reflect on what the ongoing changes and challenges mean for the country today.

Table of contents: 

  1. Post-Authoritarian Governance and Elusive Stability: Tunisia's Uneasy Transition, Mohamed Zayani
  2. The Tunisian Transition and Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Democracy is up to the Citizens, not the Neighbors, Marina Ottaway
  3. Transitional Bodies, Party Politics, and Anti-Democratic Potential: The Case of HAICA, Enrique Klaus
  4. Post-Islamism Politics in Tunisia: Ennahda's Evolution since the Revolution, Fabio Merone
  5. Tunisia's Re-Invigorated Civil Society: Changes and Challenges, Zuzana Hudáková
  6. Mobilization in Tunisia Post-2011: From Political Protest to National Campaign Movement, Irene Weipert-Fenner
  7. The Violence of Endurance: Youth Precarity and Social Justice in Inner Tunisia, Alyssa Miller
  8. Changing Security Dynamics in Tunisia: Reconsidering the Battle for Ben Gardane, Ruth Hanau Santini
  9. What Can Tunisia's Past Tell Us about its Future? Critical Junctures and Political Trends, Alexandra Blackman

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