Tunisia - Notes on the Revolution

[TBF]

This happened quickly, with unemployed youth leading the charge. The revolution will not be televised but you may see it coordinated on Facebook. This will be very interesting to watch over the next few weeks, but there are already lots of lessons here.

Notes on the Tunisian Revolution
by Dyab Abou Jahjah

From day one it was clear this was a revolution that was not about bread only, it was also against dictatorship and corruption. The revolution was supported by all segments of society. Poor, middle class, and even upper middle class. Especially the middle class showed its claws in the last days in Tunis. Many friends of mine who live there and who are university students or employed in good positions were in the street, also taking tear gas and bullets. The youth played an important role in all this and cell phones combined with Facebook connected through proxy services was the media of the revolution...

<snip>

But the momentum of the revolution was too fast for such plans to materialize. The people had no leader but itself. This however posed a problem for the revolution as to how to organize transition of power: who will take over. There were only three options: exile government (but that would be only in the long run); military coup; or some figure from the regime institution will take over. Now it seems that the two last options are still open. Ghanoushi the prime minister is from within the establishment, but it is very likely that he will be in power for few days only, some believe few hours.

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/jahjah150111.html

[TBF]

1. Tunisia: Social Justice or Social Media?

Jamal Dajani
VP of MENA/LAC regions at Internews Network
Posted: January 16, 2011 12:23 PM

The Jasmine Revolution as it is dubbed now was not televised on Tunisia's main television station, Tunisie7, nor did it make headlines in the local press, but the news spread like wildfire on Facebook, YouTube, mobile phone, and to a lesser extent on Twitter (most of the tweets were from outside Tunisia).

Prior to my arrival to Tunis, I had spent the past five weeks in the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories debating social media, its impact on youth, and its relationship with journalism in the Arab world with my interlocutors.

It is very easy, but over-simplistic and naive to decide on a social media interpretation for the Jasmine Revolution, as we have been witnessing by many bloggers and self-appointed Middle East experts, many of whom neither speak Arabic nor have spent an extended period of time in the Middle East. They desperately want to convince us that Tunisians needed an external technological Western invention in order to succeed. A Twitter revolution of some sorts, as they previously labeled the Iranian Velvet Revolution, as though Arab masses were not capable on their own of saying "enough is enough."

Certainly social media was used as a communication tool for Tunisians to air their frustrations with the economy, unemployment, censorship, and corruption. But many factors lead to its success, such as a well organized trade unions movement, and the most potent weapon in the Arab world, the youth.

Huffington Post, much more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamal-dajani/tunisia-social-justice-or_b_809679.html

[TBF]

2. Gunfire in Tunisian capital as future in question

By ELAINE GANLEY and BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA
The Associated Press
Sunday, January 16, 2011; 11:27 AM

TUNIS, Tunisia -- Tunisian authorities struggled to restore order Sunday, arresting the top presidential security chief and trying to stop gunfights that erupted across the capital. One clash broke out near Tunisia's main opposition party building, another by the dreaded Interior Ministry.

Observers worldwide were looking to see which way the North African nation would turn as its new leadership sought to tamp down the looting, arson and random violence that has erupted since autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The Washington Post - much more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/16/AR2011011600448.html?hpid=topnews

[Starry Messenger]

3. k&r

!!

[Catherina]

4. Rec'd. I love that picture! n/t

[TBF]

5. Tunisia PM to announce new government

And just like that a new government is forming - inspiring:

TUNIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia’s prime minister promised to announce a new coalition government on Monday, hoping to maintain the momentum of political progress to ward off fresh protests and also undercut gunmen loyal to the ousted president.

Tunisian special forces fought a gun battle with the ousted president’s security force near the presidential palace on Sunday, a military source said, two days after Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted after more than 23 years as president.

But Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi promised rapid action to fill the power vacuum.

"Tomorrow we will announce the new government which will open a new page in the history of Tunisia," he said in a brief statement on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Tunisia+announce+government/4117799/story.html#ixzz1BFzamN2t

[maryf]

6. Inspiring is right!!

and rec 5 from me (how many times?) thanks! :hi:

[Starry Messenger]

7. I wish I could rec again.

Thank you for posting all of the updates too, TBF. :thumbsup:

[Cerridwen]

9. I'll add a rec for me and for you.

I don't mind sharing. :)

I hope all goes well for Tunisia.

I'm rooting for the people.

[leftstreet]

8. "...a revolution that was not about bread only"

Oh yeah, baby!

Thanks for posting this, and the additional links

K&R

[TBF]

12. I liked this line - "Especially the middle class showed its claws in the last days in Tunis."

That's when things start moving - when folks realize that they are normal folks and not part of the ruling elite (top 1% or less of the country). Then folks can work together and get things done.

[maryf]

10. Morning kick!

Solidarity!

[TBF]

11. Thanks and solidarity -

I can't get over how fast Tunisia fell. Amazing.

[Starry Messenger]

13. Another one from the West coast.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. I'll add a kick this morning. I love the way that this............

happened, so quickly and with so much apparent support from the people. AND so realitively peaceful. But I admit I don't know that much about it.

Anybody have any idea about the philosophical underpinnings of this movement? I would hate for this to be taken over by theocrats and one form of tyranny be replaced by another. I would like to see some of the more socialist democracies of Latin America to become involved with aid and support. Hugo this would be the chance at the big stage and you DO seem to like the big stage! :)

[blindpig]

15. better late than never kick n/t