Agents of change: Civil society in post-revolutionary Tunisia

Description

This article addresses the role civil society actors and civil society organisations (CSOs) have played in implementing political, social and cultural change in Tunisia’s period of transition from authoritarianism to an emerging democratic system. Civil society has been an effective agent of change, through its political mediation, anti-corruption watchdog, awareness raising and educative roles, but it must continue to develop and evolve if it is to remain an effective agent of change: the issues of funding, training, and information acquisition are addressed, in addition to the approaches of CSOs and civil society’s relationship with government.

Alexander Peter Martin is a PhD researcher at Durham University. He conducted extensive interview, survey, and observational fieldwork in Tunisia (2013-2014) for his thesis. His work addresses civil society, political culture and political transitions.