Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution: A Harbinger of Future Uprisings?

James Phillips / January 18, 2011

The popular uprising in Tunisia that overthrew the authoritarian regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali has created tremendous uncertainty in the North African Arab country and raised expectations that political instability could also engulf other countries in the region. Ben Ali, 74, ruled with an iron hand for 23 years before his police state was swept away by anti-government riots that claimed the lives of at least 78 people. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi unveiled a new government of national unity on Monday and promised that all political parties would now be allowed to operate in Tunisia. But it is unclear if opposition forces will be satisfied with the direction and pace of political change.

The uprisings began as protests over the Ben Ali regime’s political repression, increasingly visible corruption, and failure to effectively address Tunisia’s economic problems. Popular resentment of the government’s high-handed treatment of its own citizens was further stoked by high unemployment, rising food prices, cuts in government subsidies and grumbling about the kleptocratic behavior of Ben Ali’s cronies. (more…)