“Gender Representation via Humor” by Najla Mosbahi
MECAM fellow Najla Mosbahi has published an article titled “Gender Representation via Humor”in Disorient.
This article explores how recent Tunisian advertising campaigns are using humor as a powerful tool to challenge traditional gender roles and promote more progressive, empowered representations of women. By creatively challenging outdated stereotypes, these ads invite audiences to rethink societal norms and embrace a more equitable future.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
Liberation, Ecology, and Industrialization in the Thought of Ismail-Sabri Abdallah
MECAM fellow Max Ajl has published an article titled “Liberation, Ecology, and Industrialization in the Thought of Ismail-Sabri Abdallah” in Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
La rente et le changement institutionnel en Algérie – 5in10 avec Samir Bellal
We are pleased to share that Samir Bellal , currently a MECAM Fellow for 2024/2025 , has participated in a new 5in10 interview as part of the Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity series on the TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research!
In this interview, “La rente et le changement institutionnel en Algérie“, Samir Bellal discusses his research on rentier economies and institutional change in Algeria, reflecting on themes of economic stagnation, political clientelism, and structural disparities. Through five insightful questions, he explores the challenges of economic reform, the role of institutions in shaping development, and the broader implications for Algeria’s future.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
New Articles in the third issue of the University of Tunis’ journal “Joussour”:
Dr. Steffen Wippel, Premier atelier de publication du Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) en Février 2024, à Tunis in la Revue Joussour de l’Université de Tunis, Vol 3 , Decembre 2024, 8-10
Dr.Theresa Blaschke and Prof.Dr Malte Hagener , Mastering Cultural Data – The Marburg Center for Digital Culture and Infrastructure , Tunis in la Revue Joussour de l’Université de Tunis, Vol 3 , Decembre 2024, 27- 29
MECAM is pleased to announce the publication of two articles titled Premier atelier de publication du Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) en février 2024 à Tunis and Mastering Cultural Data – The Marburg Center for Digital Culture and Infrastructure in the third issue of la Revue Joussour de l’Université de Tunis.
Premier atelier de publication du Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) en février 2024 à Tunis:
- During its main phase (2024–2029), MECAM in Tunis is organizing a series of publication workshops to train the next generation of authors, editors, and reviewers among its researchers, collaborators, and partners. Coordinated by the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg, one of MECAM’s consortium partners, these workshops focus on academic publishing. The first session took place from February 27–29, 2024, at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Tunis and the National Library of Tunisia. Led by Dr. Steffen Wippel, MECAM’s publication coordinator at GIGA, the workshop emphasized “scientific publishing” over “academic writing” and was primarily aimed at MECAM’s current short- and long-term fellows, as well as alumni currently in Tunisia.
Mastering Cultural Data – The Marburg Center for Digital Culture and Infrastructure:
- In this article, Theresa Blaschke and Malte Hagener from Philipps-Universität Marburg explore the impact of digital transformation on culture while introducing the Marburg Center for Digital Culture and Infrastructure (MCDCI) at the university. They highlight the center’s initiatives, including the use of digital methods and artificial intelligence in cultural data studies. The article also presents the Master’s program in Cultural Data Studies, which merges digital skills with hands-on research in the humanities and social sciences.
For more details, download the full edition
New Book Release: Social Criticism and Resistance in Arab Contexts: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Studies
We are delighted to announce the release of the latest book edited by Ridha Ben Amor, titled Social Criticism and Resistance in Arab Contexts: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Studies [Critique sociale et résistance en contextes arabes, enjeux théoriques et études empiriques].
Ridha ben amor is a member of the Laboratoire Translab and at the Faculté des Scienes humaines et sociales (Université de Tunis). This book is the result of collaboration between:
- The Merian Center for Adavanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM)
- L’université de Tunis
- Laboratoire des études interdisciplinaires sur les transitions, les transformations et la transmission TransLab
- Faculté des sciences humaines et sociales de l’Université de Tunis (ISSHT)
It features an introduction by MECAM Director Rachid Ouaissa and MECAM Principal Investigator Mohamed Ali Ben Zina.
This book challenges approaches that have overlooked the “revolution” since 2011, emphasizing the ongoing dynamics shaping societies during these years. It focuses on social criticism and resistance, examining various issues from below, particularly within the Arab world, highlighting their relevance in the context of protest and opposition, despite challenges.
Stay tuned for more updates and details on how to access this publication!
The green transition in Morocco: Extractivity, inclusivity, and the stability of the social contract
Mohamed Ismail Sabry, currently a fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), has published a paper entitled The Green Transition in Morocco: Extractivity, inclusivity, and the stability of the social contract in The Extractive Industries and Society.
This paper investigates the social contract governing the green transition in Morocco, using a framework based on the literature on social contracts and policy coalitions and relying on process tracing and qualitative data collected during field visits. It suggests that Morocco tends to have an extractive but stable social contract, driven by the European Union’s growing demand for renewables and decarbonization, which influenced the activities of state and social actors. The presence of a powerful state connected to influential tycoons amplified their impact, while the absence of clear opposition to the transition among other social actors stabilized the social contract.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
MECAM presentation in la Revue Tunisienne des Sciences Sociales
We are thrilled to share that Le Centre d’études et de recherches économiques et sociales CERES has published an article about our work as part of their latest annual edition of la Revue Tunisienne des Sciences Sociales. The article highlights our interdisciplinary research programs and our unique Tunisian-German partnership. MECAM promotes academic exchange between Tunisia, the Maghreb, and Germany while addressing disparities through its central theme, “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparity,” and its five key research axes.
We are truly grateful to CERES for highlighting our work and nurturing collaboration within the academic community. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work together again in the future.
Palestine and the Ends of Theory
MECAM long term fellow Max Ajl has published a paper entitled “Palestine and the Ends of Theory” in Taylor and Francis.The article examines how anti-Zionist theories in the past 15 years have sidelined national liberation and regional politics. It critiques the disconnect between EU-US anti-Zionism and Palestinian resistance, shaped by post-Cold War imperial strategies and the professionalization of Arab studies. The article calls for inclusive theoretical approaches aligned with the Palestinian liberation agenda.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
State-society relations and industrial sustainable growth: The case of post-Revolution Tunisia
Mohamed Ismail Sabry, currently a fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), has published a paper entitled “State-society relations and industrial sustainable growth: The case of post-Revolution Tunisia” in Wiley Journals.
The paper examines the impact of state-society relations (SSR) on sustainable economic growth in Tunisia’s industrial sector after the 2011 Revolution. It identifies state capture as a defining feature, showing how the dominance of tycoons, weakened state institutions, and fragmented social actors have undermined environmental regulations and hindered the adoption of Green technologies. Drawing on fieldwork interviews and civil society data, the study highlights systemic challenges in key sectors such as textiles and phosphates, providing insights into the interplay between governance, economic structures, and sustainability.
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
New Mini-Series Launch: Academic Freedom, Research Ethics & Knowledge Production
As part of the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) and the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) on the theme of “Academic Freedom,” we were honoured to host a roundtable during the Wissenschaftsjahr 2024 in Accra (the German year of Science 2024 : Freedom). The event, titled “Academic Freedom and Research Ethics: Dynamics in Ghana, Tunisia, and Germany,” fostered enriching discussions among scholars from diverse backgrounds.
We are now thrilled to announce the launch of a five-part mini-series on the TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research, exploring the critical intersection of academic freedom, research ethics, and knowledge production. This series aims to spark intellectual exchange through a variety of formats, including research articles, reports, lectures, and essays.
The first article of the series is already available on Trafoblog, “Decolonizing Academia at MIASA and MECAM: Academic Freedom and Research Ethics in Dialogue”. It is written by Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff (MECAM Academic Coordinator), and Dr. Agnes Schneider-Musah (MIASA Academic Coordinator). The article offers reflections from scholars who participated in the roundtable on “Academic Freedom and Research Ethics: Dynamics in Ghana, Tunisia, and Germany.”
For more details, Check the artcile [Link].
Market Logics and Moral Economies during Tunisia’s Shortages Crisis
The latest issue of the MECAM Papers series is entitled Market Logics and Moral Economies during Tunisia’s Shortages Crisis. This edition is written by MECAM Alumni fellow Joshua Rigg.
Between 2021 and 2024, Tunisia experienced widespread food shortages in staples like flour, sugar, and milk. Although these shortages could have triggered protests as anticipated by the “bread riot thesis,” Tunisians instead developed practical, community-centred strategies to cope. The shortages intensified economic inequalities, particularly affecting lower-income areas where residents often waited in long lines for scarce goods.
At the neighbourhood level, people relied on an informal “moral economy” that merged economic needs with ethical concerns, recognizing and addressing local hierarchies of need. By focusing on fair distribution within their communities, citizens challenged traditional ideas that state intervention is the only response to scarcity, suggesting that the market itself is a significant space for social advocacy.
For more details, Check the MECAM Paper No 8
The Draft Constitution of the French Federation of the FLN (May 1962): another form of Algerian independence
MECAM long-term Fellow Massensen Cherbi just published an article in Revue des mondes musulmans et de la Méditerranée. The article is titled: ‘The Draft Constitution of the French Federation of the FLN (May 1962): another form of Algerian independence’
Overview: On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the first Constitution of independent Algeria (September 1963), a study of the Draft Constitution of the French Federation of the FLN (May 1962) offers a new perspective, both on the history of the Federation and that of Algerian political and constitutional thought. The Constitution is notable for the place it accords to women, who are the true equals of men even in matters of inheritance, within a legal framework marked by the “separation of religion and state.” Against an ossified understanding of a past identity, it calls for an “authentic national culture,” indicating an understanding of culture that is open and “developing”. This project also contrasts with the presidentialism and militarisation that have characterised Algerian politics since 1962, by favouring a collegiate executive, while subordinating the army “to the civilian power designated by the people.” Far from being a pastiche, this project is rooted in the history of the Fédération de France and issues specific to Algeria.
For more details, Check the article [Link].
China’s Influence on Arab Development Models: an interview with MECAM fellow Max Ajl
Max Ajl, a long-term fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) shares his expertise on the impact of China’s agrarian reform on Arab countries in a recent interview with the Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE). In his interview, Max Ajl discusses his research on the influence of China’s agrarian reform on Arab countries, particularly Tunisia, highlighting how China’s experience with an alternative development path resonated with local conditions and inspired Tunisian intellectuals and planners.
For more details, Check the interview [Link].
State infrastructural power in a neopatrimonialist democratization context: Why Tunisian sustainable land management fails
MECAM alumni fellow Andreas Thiel issued an article titled ‘State infrastructural power in a neopatrimonialist democratization context: Why Tunisian sustainable land management fails’.
The article is published in Review of Policy Research (RPR) and features contribution from Nora Schütze, Annabelle Buhrow, and Ayoub Fouzai.
Sustaining agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions is crucial for food security, geo-political independence, and social stability. This article explores the role of the state and its policies in soil protection in Tunisia’s rainfed agriculture. It also examines the Tunisian state’s role in natural resource protection during democratization, contributing to the understanding of policy implementation in transitioning countries. Using qualitative methods, the article highlights the state’s weak role in soil protection due to subnational variation, state capabilities, and a worsening fiscal crisis. Neopatrimonial traits in the state contribute to rural discrimination, marginalization of farmers, and hinder sustainable land management. Combined with institutional uncertainty, these factors weaken administrative capacities.
For more details, see the article [Link].
Reimagining the Maghreb: Navigating an Autonomous Region in Motion
The shortened issue of the MECAM latest Papers series, Reimagining the Maghreb: Navigating an Autonomous Region in Motion, is now on Trafo blog. This edition features a joint contribution from Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, Prof. Dr. Rachid Ouaissa, and Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter.
TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research is a platform for scholars in the humanities and social sciences who are interested in transregional exchange and research on current issues. TRAFO is the blog of the Forum Transregionale Studien (Berlin) and the Max Weber Stiftung – Deutsche Geisteswissenschaftliche Institute im Ausland (Bonn).
Based on its guiding theme “Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity” MECAM aims to play a notable role in advancing both current and future knowledge production in the Humanities and Social Sciences within, from, and about the Maghreb. The Maghreb has historically faced internal tensions and external complexities that are vital for understanding its contemporary transformations. Despite distinct histories, Maghrebi countries share commonalities such as language, religion, and historical experiences. Since the Arab Uprisings of 2010-2011, they have grappled with challenges including economic transitions, authoritarianism, and identity crises. Key trajectories in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia post-uprisings include social and political reforms, economic difficulties, aspirations for unity, and geopolitical concerns. This evolving landscape is reflected in a shift towards more critical academic discourse that embraces diverse perspectives and challenges Western-centric views while advocating for epistemic justice.
For more details, see the article [Link].
Africa and the Nature of the Ottoman Empire: Challenging the Inertia of Eurocentrism
Nora Lafi, Alumni Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) just published a paper entitled “Africa and the Nature of the Ottoman Empire: Challenging the Inertia of Eurocentrism” in Eurasian Studies, 21(2), 276-302. https://doi.org/10.1163/24685623-20230156
The paper is part of a thematic issue on “The Ottoman Africa and the Ottomans in Africa”. Dr. Lafi’s publication discusses existing narratives on the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and the African continent and contributes to the elaboration of alternative interpretations, that insist both on the crucial role of the Ottoman provinces of Africa in the definition of the very nature of the Empire and on the depth of the links between the Ottoman realm and the core of the African continent.
For more details, see the article [Link].
Book review: Tripoli coloniale. Histoire sociale et économique d’une ville sous domination italienne [Colonial Tripoli: social and economic history of a city under Italian Rule]
Nora Lafi, Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) as just published an article entitled “Book review: Tripoli coloniale. Histoire sociale et économique d’une ville sous domination italienne [Colonial Tripoli: social and economic history of a city under Italian Rule]“ in Planning Perspectives. Doi: 10.1080/02665433.2024.2343248
This article reviews François Dumasy’s book entitled “Tripoli coloniale. Histoire sociale et économique d’une ville sous domination italienne”. The book was published in 2022 by the Ecole Français de Rome. “Tripoli colonial” offers new perspectives on the interpretation of the relationship between urban space and colonial power.
For more details, see the article [Link].
To download the full article: [Download].
The 2020 Revision of the Algerian Constitution and the Ḥirāk: Returning to Constitutional Order after the Institutional Disorders of 2019
Massensen Cherbi, long-term Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) as just published an article entitled “The 2020 Revision of the Algerian Constitution and the Ḥirāk: Returning to Constitutional Order after the Institutional Disorders of 2019“ in the Arab Law Quarterly. Doi:10.1163/15730255-bja10152
The revision of the Algerian Constitution of 30 December 2020 presented the Constitutional response to the institutional roadblocks and incoherencies within the hierarchy of norms brought to light by the Ḥirāk in 2019. The procedure used to revise the Constitution — an initiative of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, rather than the election of a Constituent Assembly — has largely predetermined its content. The Army’s mission is now to defend “the country’s vital and strategic interests”(Article 30, para. 4), providing the retrospective legitimisation of its 2019 intervention to drive President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down. Furthermore, the amended Constitution makes it possible to pass legislation restricting fundamental rights and freedoms “for reasons linked to maintaining public order, security, and the protection of national constants” (Article 34, para. 2). This provision paves the way for the validation of oppressive laws applied or announced since 2019 with the aim of ending the Ḥirāk. This article argues that the Algerian Constitution no longer merely outlines a constitutionally ultra-Presidentialist regime, largely inherited from the 1976 Constitution, but an ultra-Presidentialist regime that is now also de jure militarised.
For more details, access the full article: [Link ], [ Link].
Public–private wage differentials in Tunisia
Amara, M., Khallouli, W. & Zidi, F. (2024) Public–private wage differentials in Tunisia: Consistency and decomposition. LABOUR, 1–36.
Mohamed Amara, fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), along with co-authors Wajih Khallouli and Faicel Zidi, presents a comprehensive analysis on public–private wage disparities in urban Tunisia. Their study, featured in LABOUR, scrutinizes the intricate factors contributing to these discrepancies, shedding light on the impact of education, gender, and skill levels.
For an in-depth exploration of their findings, access the full article here: Link
For more details, access the full article: [Download].
Alternative targeting methods for social assistance programs
Nasri, K., Amara, M., & Helmi, I. (2024). Alternative targeting methods for social assistance programs: Evidence from Tunisia. Social Policy & Administration, 1–24.
Mohamed Amara, a fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies on the Maghreb, along with Khaled Nasri and Imène Helmi, presents a comprehensive analysis of social assistance programs in Tunisia, highlighting the crucial importance of these programs in combating poverty, reducing inequalities, and addressing social exclusion. Their study, published in Social Policy & Administration, examines two approaches to targeting beneficiaries of these programs, including cash transfers and healthcare programs. For a detailed exploration of their findings, access the full article here: Link
For more details, access the full article: [Download].
MECAM: Milestones and Measures – New Articles in the second issue of the University of Tunis’ journal “Joussour”
Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM): Final conference of the preliminary phase of the project (2020-2023) in Tunis & approval of the main phase of the project (2023-2029), in Joussour, Revue de l’Université de Tunis, Vol 2, March 2024, 22-24.
Dr. Diana Abbani, Face aux défis de la pandémie de COVID-19 : Les mesures prises par le MECAM pour lancer et maintenir la continuité de ses activités, in Joussour, Revue de l’Université de Tunis, Vol 2, Mars 2024, 39-42.
MECAM is pleased to announce the publication of two articles titled “Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) : Conférence finale de la phase préliminaire du projet (2020-2023) à Tunis & l’approbation de la phase principale du projet (2023-2029),” authored by MECAM’s Academic Coordinator Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, and “Face aux défis de la pandémie de COVID-19 : Les mesures prises par le MECAM pour lancer et maintenir la continuité de ses activités,” written by MECAM’s Science Communication Coordinator Dr. Diana Abbani, in the second issue of the University of Tunis’ journal “Joussour.”
- Julius Dihstelhoff’s article summarizes the final conference of MECAM’s preliminary project phase in Tunis and the approval of its main phase. The conference, “Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity,” gathered 70 researchers to discuss inequalities and future visions. MECAM concluded its preliminary phase successfully and secured funding for another six years. It aims to be a hub for intellectual exchange, showcasing pioneering research in the Maghreb’s humanities and social sciences internationally.
- Diana Abbani’s article summarizes MECAM’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing efforts to maintain activities despite challenges. Adaptations to fellowship programs and scientific events were made to comply with restrictions, with essential collaboration with the Forum Transregionale Studien. Despite obstacles, MECAM remained flexible and committed to its objectives, sparking critical debates on health protocols and knowledge production.
For more details, download the full edition: Link
Power-Sharing Processes in Post-Arab Spring Tunisia: From Elite Compromise to Presidential Monopolization
Julius Dihstelhoff and Moritz Simon, Power-Sharing Processes in Post-Arab Spring Tunisia: From Elite Compromise to Presidential Monopolization, in Power-Sharing in the Global South, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 85–120, 2024.
Julius Dihstelhoff, academic coordinator at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), and Moritz Simon contributed a chapter entitled “Power-Sharing Processes in Post-Arab Spring Tunisia: From Elite Compromise to Presidential Monopolization” to the recently published volume “Power-Sharing in the Global South” edited by Eduardo Wassim Aboultaif, Soeren Keil and Allison McCulloch.
In the context of the so-called Arab Spring, Tunisia is the only Arab country to have undergone a formal democratic transition since 2010/2011. Such consolidation can be traced back to an elite compromise (Itifaq al nukhba). This specific and initially persistent format of power-sharing was characterized by personal negotiation processes. This practice took place—within and outside—an institutional superstructure that, amid a multitude of sociopolitical and economic challenges, corresponded at least formally to an institutional democracy. Since 2018, a decline of the elite compromise could be observed, culminating in the abolition of the power-sharing arrangement in favor of a presidential monopolization of power. Using sociohistorical reflection, this chapter will provide an overview of the characteristics of the Tunisian format of power-sharing in a three-step process, thus analyzing (1) the creation, (2) the functional implementation and adaptation in terms of institutional constitutionality, and (3) the decline and dissolution of the power-sharing process and system.
For more details, read the full analysis: Link
Gazan perspectives on Hamas and the day after
Imad Alsoos, Gazan perspectives on Hamas and the day after, in Governing Gaza After the War: Palestinian Debates, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 09.02.2024.
Imad Alsoos, Fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) just published an analysis entitled “Gazan perspectives on Hamas and the day after”, in Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in the second part of the Middle East Program’s series on postwar governance in Gaza “Governing Gaza After the War: Palestinian Debates”.
For more details, read the full analysis: Link
Development at Work: Postcolonial Imaginaries, Global Capitalism, and Everyday Life at a Factory in Tunisia
André Weißenfels, Development at Work: Postcolonial Imaginaries, Global Capitalism, and Everyday Life at a Factory in Tunisia, Politik und Gesellschaft des Nahen Ostens (PGNO), Springer VS, 2024.
Nous sommes ravis d’annoncer la publication de la thèse de doctorat “Development at Work: Postcolonial Imaginaries, Global Capitalism, and Everyday Life at a Factory in Tunisia” du Dr. André Weißenfels, alumni du Interdisciplinary Fellowgroup II “Inégalité & Mobility” du MECAM.
Why did the postcolonial Tunisian state promise development? How do these promises reverberate in the hopes and dreams of Tunisians today? And how do they fit into contemporary global capitalist structures of exploitation? Starting from the everyday life at a French factory in Tunisia this book explores the relationship between the political economy of Tunisia, postcolonial promises of the Tunisian state and the hopes and dreams of Tunisians working in the factory. It argues for taking the concept of development seriously not as a desirable policy goal but as a multi-dimensional social and political fact: as the unfolding of global capitalism, as a postcolonial nation-state project, and as a personal everyday imaginary. The book employs a longue durée perspective that analyzes contemporary desires and expectations while tracing and placing them inside Tunisia’s history. It thus contributes to our understanding of state-society relations and global capitalism in Tunisia.
For more details: Link
An Exploratory Practice Study on the Use of Film Adaptation in the Tunisian Literature Classroom
Cyrine Kortas, An Exploratory Practice Study on the Use of Film Adaptation in the Tunisian Literature Classroom, in Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL at Teachers College, Columbia University, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 118-127.
Cyrine Kortas, long-term Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) as just published an article entitled “An Exploratory Practice Study on the Use of Film Adaptation in the Tunisian Literature Classroom”, in Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL at Teachers College, Columbia University.
This exploratory practice study examined the effectiveness of film adaptation in teachinga Shakespearean play, The Merchant of Venice, during the fall semester of 2022 at the Higher Institute of Languages, Gabès. Qualitative and quantitative data from third-year students majoring in English language, literature, and civilization, as well as teachers of English literature were collected through a questionnaire and two interviews. Questionnaire results indicated that the majority of students had a positive view of the film adaptation of the play in question, noting that it helped them overcome their anxiety when reading Shakespearean works and increased their motivation and engagement. The teachers interviewedhighlighted the effectiveness of film adaptation in teaching literature,in general,and Shakespearean plays,in particular. Link
Les mécanismes législatifs de l’autoritarisme algérien face au hirak : entre répression de la mobilisation et prévention de toute organisation du mouvement
Massensen Cherbi, « Les mécanismes législatifs de l’autoritarisme algérien face au hirak : entre répression de la mobilisation et prévention de toute organisation du mouvement », L’Année du Maghreb [En ligne], 30 | 2023, mis en ligne le 22 décembre 2023, consulté le 24 décembre 2023. URL :http://journals.openedition.org/anneemaghreb/12193
Massensen Cherbi, long-term Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) has just published an article entitled « Les mécanismes législatifs de l’autoritarisme algérien face au hirak : entre répression de la mobilisation et prévention de toute organisation du mouvement » in L’Année du Maghreb 30 | 2023 in the file « L’ordre et la force » under the section « Enjeux et débats : Algérie ».
Since June 2019, the Algerian hirak has been subjected to a judicial crackdown that has put an end to its public action since May-June 2021. To repress the mobilization of this peaceful “Movement” and prevent its structuration, the authorities already had at their disposal a wide range of repressive provisions restricting rights and freedoms – a legacy of the colonial era, the single party, the Black Decade and the containment of the Arab Springs. To respond to the specificities of the hirak, this arsenal was reinforced, as soon the confinement that followed the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic was announced, with the promulgation of new laws targeting “passive solidarity crime” and discourse of hatred or “fake news”. In addition, Ordinance No. 21-08 of 8 June 2021 more broadly and severely criminalized the demands of the movement, extending the qualification of terrorist act and sabotage to the fact of “striving or inciting, by any means, to access power or change the system of governance by non-constitutional means” (Penal Code, art. 87 bis, para. 14).
For more information and to download :
- Rubrique – Enjeux et débats : Les mécanismes législatifs de l’autoritarisme algérien face au hirak : entre répression de la mobilisation et prévention de toute organisation du mouvement – by Massensen Cherbi
- L’Année du Maghreb 30 | 2023: Dossier : L’ordre et la force – Police, sécurité et surveillance au Nord de l’Afrique
Kais Saied’s reconfiguration of Tunisia’s political system: Hegemonic ambitions to no avail? – A critical approach
Julius Dihstelhoff et Mounir Mrad, « Kais Saied’s reconfiguration of Tunisia’s political system: Hegemonic ambitions to no avail? – A critical approach », L’Année du Maghreb [En ligne], 30 | 2023, mis en ligne le 27 novembre 2023, consulté le 23 décembre 2023. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/anneemaghreb/12223
Julius Dihstelhoff, MECAM’s Academic Coordinator, and Mounir Mrad, MECAM’s Programme Managern, have just published an article entitled « Kais Saied’s reconfiguration of Tunisia’s political system: Hegemonic ambitions to no avail? – A critical approach» in L’Année du Maghreb 30 | 2023 in the file « L’ordre et la force » under the section « Enjeux et débats : Tunisie ».
The present article scrutinizes Tunisia’s contemporary political system under the regime of President Kais Saied, who has been endeavoring to ‘reconfigurate the state’ since July 25, 2021. Drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of two disparate thinkers, the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci and the German constitutionalist Carl Schmitt, the authors seek to investigate the genesis of Saied’s implemented measures. The article examines how Saied’s restructuring of Tunisia’s political system can be explained by drawing upon the conceptual proposals of «hegemonic sovereignty» by Kalyvas (2020) and Gramsci’s «dictatorship without hegemony» (Gramsci, 1971), the latter representing a sustained hegemonic crisis. The authors contextualize their study by examining Tunisia’s longstanding «hegemonic crisis» (Schwarzmantel, 2015) and its exacerbation since the ‘Tunisian revolution’. They argue that a preliminary culmination and expression of this ‘hegemonic crisis’ can be perceived as the Schmittian momentum of a «sovereign dictatorship» (Schmitt, 1921-23/1928), and the latter should be especially considered in conjunction with a historical long-term perspective on hegemonic crisis to assess Saied’s assumption of power. They thereby explore the processes of hegemonic formation or failure in Tunisia following the 2010/2011 revolution, while highlighting the associated social and economic challenges of instituting a new political order. As empirical basis for this article, the authors utilize a range of sources, including recent academic publications, governmental decrees, diverse media reports, and speeches of and interviews with Saied subsequent to his assumption of power, to support their document analysis.
For more information and to download :
- Rubrique – Enjeux et débats : Kais Saied’s reconfiguration of Tunisia’s political system: Hegemonic ambitions to no avail? – A critical approach – by Julius Dihstelhoff & Mounir Mrad
- L’Année du Maghreb 30 | 2023: Dossier : L’ordre et la force – Police, sécurité et surveillance au Nord de l’Afrique
Islam, religion of the State: an Algerian enigma
Massensen Cherbi, l’islam religion de l’Etat: une énigme algérienne, in Revue française de droit constitutionnel 2023/4 (N° 136), pp. 811 à 842, Éditions Presses Universitaires de France. DOI 10.3917/rfdc.136.0811
Massensen Cherbi, long-term Fellow of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) as just published an article entitled « Islam, religion of the State: an Algerian enigma », in Revue française de droit constitutionnel 2023/4 (N° 136).
The consecration of Islam as the religion of the State in the first Algerian Constitution of 1963 led Boualem Benhamouda, MP and future Minister of Justice (1970-1977), to ask the Constituent Assembly about such a proclamation: “Are you prepared to draw all the consequences from this principle? More than half a century later, the question still remains open, even though since the constitutional revision of 2020, Algeria’s Basic Law has proclaimed that it is possible to derogate from the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution by law, in order to preserve “national constants” (art. 34, para. 2) which, while remaining undefined, seem to refer to Islam, constantly proclaimed the religion of the State since independence. The same revision also saw the abolition of freedom of conscience and belief, which had been enshrined in the 1976 Constitution. These upheavals are taking place against a backdrop marked by the introduction of the exception of unconstitutionality as part of the 2016 constitutional revision, which since 7 March 2019 has made it possible to challenge legislation that discriminates against gender or restricts religious freedom. This context was also marked by the repression of the Hirak, a peaceful movement that emerged in February 2019 against President Bouteflika’s fifth term in office and in favour of a “radical change of system”. These upheavals raise more general questions about the notion of state religion and its legal implications in Algeria. Link
Arabs at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students: UGEMA in the USSR, 1957
Elizabeth Bishop, Arabs at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students: UGEMA in the USSR, 1957, in The Maghreb Review, Maghreb Publications,Volume 48, Number 4, 2023, pp. 424-442, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1353/tmr.2023.a911142
We are thrilled to announce the release of a groundbreaking article by Dr. Elizabeth Bishop, an alumna of IFG V on Identities and Beliefs, entitled “Arabs at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students: UGEMA in the USSR, 1957”, in in The Maghreb Review, Maghreb Publications,Volume 48, Number 4, 2023.
The Sixth International Festival of Youth and Students for Peace and Friendship (VIème Festival Mondial de la jeunesse et des étudiants pour la paix et l’amitié) took place in Moscow in 1957, bringing 30,000 foreigners straight into the heart of socialism. Guests from 131 different countries were present; historian Kristen Roth-Ey identifies the “openness of ordinary Soviets to contacts with ordinary foreigners” as the Moscow event’s most remarkable feature: “many delegates found themselves literally surrounded by crowds of Soviets, some with questions, some looking for an autograph or to exchange a pin or shake hands, and some, perhaps many, just looking.” As Roth-Ey points out, the Soviet communist party encouraged this kind of friendliness (which is germane to our wider conversation about Arab-Soviet internationalism); A. N. Shelepin, head of the Komsomol (the communist youth organization), explained, “we must run the festival in such a way that the overwhelming majority of participants leave Moscow as our friends. That’s our main task, that’s our general line.” In part because invitations went to individuals, not to official organizations – in part because of the scale of the event – a “freewheeling, informal spirit” distinguished a culmination of post-World War II euphoria during the summer of 1957. Link
The 2020 Algerian Constitutional Revision. Bringing an End to the Hirak through the Law and Preventing its Resurgence
Massensen Cherbi, La révision constitutionnelle algérienne de 2020 : Mettre un terme au Hirak et prévenir sa résurgence par le droit, in Mondes arabes 2023/2 (N° 4), Éditions La Découverte, pp. 93-115.
Massensen Cherbi, long-term Fellow du Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) (2023-2026) as just published an article entitled « The 2020 Algerian Constitutional Revision. Bringing an End to the Hirak through the Law and Preventing its Resurgence» in Mondes arabes 2023/2 (N° 4).
The Algerian constitutional reform of December 30, 2020 has now furnished authorities with the constitutional mechanisms needed to respond to the institutional blockages of 2019 and prevent any resurgence of the Hirak (2019–2021), a peaceful movement that opposed President Bouteflika’s fifth term and, more generally, called for a “radical change of the system.” This reform was indeed an opportunity to constitutionalize the “real power” held by the army, which it proclaimed guarantor of the “vital and strategic interests of the country,” (art. 30, para. 4) while also legitimizing the judicial repression of the Hirak under the pretext of preserving “public order,” “security,” and “national continuity.” (art.34, para.2).
For more information and to download : Link
© de Gruyter 2023 (Photo Steffen Wippel 2010)
Branding the Middle East: Communication Strategies and Image Building from Qom to Casablanca
Steffen Wippel (ed.), Branding the Middle East: Communication Strategies and Image Building from Qom to Casablanca, De Gruyter, Volume 38 in the series Studies on Modern Orient, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110741100
Steffen Wippel, currently MECAM Publications Manager at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) │GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) in Hamburg and last year’s coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Fellow Group “Resources & Sustainability” (IFG IV) at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Marburg, has published a new edited volume entitled “Branding the Middle East: Communication Strategies and Image Building from Qom to Casablanca.” The book has been published in the series Studies on Modern Orient, Volume 38 | Edition Klaus Schwarz by the renowned academic publishing house Walter De Gruyter, Berlin & Boston.
This edited volume investigates place, product, and personal branding in the Middle East and North Africa, including some studies from adjacent regions and the wider Islamicate world. While branding in the Western world and many emerging economies has been meticulously analysed, it fills an important gap in the research on MENA countries. The diversity of contributors from different regional and disciplinary backgrounds allows for a variety of research questions, perspectives, and approaches to the complex and, over the past two decades, regionally burgeoning phenomenon.
Going beyond the mere presentation of logos and slogans, the edited volume critically analyses processes of strategic communication and image building under general conditions of globalisation, neoliberalisation, and postmodemisation and, in a regional perspective, under persistent authoritarian rule and increased efforts at “worlding.” In particular, the authors look at the multiple actors involved in branding activities, their interests and motives, and examine the tools, channels, and forms of branding. A strong interest exists in the entanglements of different spatial scales and the (in)consistencies of communication measures. Attention is paid to the reconfigurations of particular images over time, the positioning of branding objects in time and space, and related geopolitical contexts. Historical case studies complement the focus on contemporary branding efforts.
Thanks to the generous funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), through the MECAM, the book is not only published as a printed hardback version, but is also freely available as Open Access, via the publisher’s website,
Energy, Refugees, Geopolitics: The World Courts North Africa – But the Maghreb is Fragmented
Rachid Ouaissa, Energie, Flüchtlinge, Geopolitik: Die Welt hofiert Nordafrika – aber der Maghreb ist zerrissen, Tagespiegel, 03.10.2023.
Rachid Ouaissa, Director of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb, has published an article in the German newspaper Tagesspiegel entitled “Energy, Refugees, Geopolitics: The World Courts North Africa – But the Maghreb is Fragmented”. In this article he sheds light on current developments in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Find out how these North African states are drifting apart in their foreign policies and what factors and interests are at play.
Read the full article: Link
State-society relations and industrial sustainable growth: The case of post-Revolution Tunisia
Mohamed Ismail Sabri, State-society relations and industrial sustainable growth: The case of post-Revolution Tunisia, in Sustainable Development, 2023, pp. 1-19. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/sd.2746 or https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2746
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Sabry is alumni of the IFG IV Resources and Sustainability and published the article “State-society relations and industrial sustainable growth: The case of post-Revolution Tunisia”, in the journal Sustainable Development.
This paper investigates the effect of state-society relations (SSR) in the industrial sector on the sustainable economic growth of post-Revolution Tunisia. The empirical part of the paper depends mainly on qualitative data collected from fieldwork interviews with the most important actors and publications of civil society organizations. The paper suggests the presence of state capture as the defining characteristic of SSR in post-Revolution Tunisia. The combination of having powerful tycoons, weaker state, and ineffectively organized social actors produced conditions that harmed sustainability. These settings allowed tycoons to violate environmental regulations and prevented Green innovation through the adoption of Green technologies. Yet, factors such as low value-added creation, increased labor-intensity, and low environmental awareness or prioritization all interact with state capture to lower sustainability. In those sectors where tycoons are active and dominant, competing social actors are incapable of effectively exploiting the presence of a freer political system, ultimately failing to successfully organize resisting coalitions, as evident in the textile sector. While higher resistance is witnessed where tycoons are not dominant as was the case in the phosphate sector, tycoons could still use the situation to their advantage.
For more information and to download the paper: Link1, Link 2
Why Ibn Khaldun is still relevant today?
Khaled Kchir (Prof. of Medieval History ; Faculty of Human and Social Sciences – University of Tunis / MECAM’s Director).
MECAM inaugurates a new phase in its commitment to promoting social science research in the Maghreb, the Mashreq, and beyond. We actively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds who delve into a variety of subjects. One of our main goals is to enrich the ongoing debate on the Global South while highlighting the voices that have long been neglected in our region. This video, created with Professor Khaled Kchir, aims to unveil the significance of Ibn Khaldûn, whose influence, though profound, is often underestimated today.
As a Professor of Medieval History at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the University of Tunis, and one of the two directors of MECAM, Professor Kchir focuses on the in-depth study of Ibn Khaldûn’s work. The latter is frequently hailed as the pioneer of modern sociology due to his pivotal role in the study of local societies and their evolution. In this interview, Professor Kchir sheds light on Ibn Khaldûn’s substantial impact in the past, his current importance, and his relevance as a model for the future.
We delve into Ibn Khaldûn’s major contributions to our understanding of human societies and urbanization. We discover how this 14th-century scholar continues to influence contemporary research and how his methodology can provide a fresh and dynamic perspective on our present and future. This video is an invitation to explore Ibn Khaldûn’s intellectual legacy, which continues to illuminate our reflections on human societies and their complex dynamics.
Green banks in Tunisia: Issues and challenges
Nadia Mansour, Green banks in Tunisia: Issues and challenges in Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development 7(2): 2099, 2023. doi: 10.24294/jipd.v7i2.
Mansour N (2023). Green banks in Tunisia: Issues and challenges. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development 7(2): 2099. doi: 10.24294/jipd.v7i2.
We are happy to announce that IFG IV “Resources and Sustainability” alumnus Dr. Nadia Mansour has published the article “Green banks in Tunisia: Issues and challenges” in the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development.
This paper explores the development of the concept of “green banks” in Tunisia, focusing on the role of regulators and the central bank in ensuring this transmission. The paper also examines the involvement of banks in the green economic transition and the various challenges.
For more information and to download the paper: [Download].
Come and Land in Algiers’: Events of 22 October 1956 in International Law
Elizabeth Bishop, Come and Land in Algiers’: Events of 22 October 1956 in International Law, AlNaciriya: Journal of sociological and historical Studies, Vol. 14 N° 1 June 2023, pp. 12 – 41.
We are thrilled to announce the release of a groundbreaking article by Dr. Elizabeth Bishop, an alumna of IFG V on Identities and Beliefs, entitled « Come and Land in Algiers’: Events of 22 October 1956 in International Law ». On October 20, 1956, Prince Moulay Hassan of Morocco flew to Tétouan, bringing back five men to Rabat. Two days later, these men boarded a plane with plans to declare independence for an Algerian state. However, conflicting claims emerged regarding the legal aspects of their actions.
This thought-provoking article delves into the historical context and examines the complexities surrounding this event. By shedding light on various perspectives, it seeks to unravel the legal implications and spark meaningful discussions among scholars and history enthusiasts.
For more details, access the full article: [Download].
Coopération internationale : Centre de recherche MECAM
Julius Dihstelhoff, Coopération internationale : Centre de recherche MECAM, in Joussour, Revue de l’Université de Tunis, Vol 1, Février 2023, pp. 34-38.
MECAM is pleased to announce the publication of the article entitled “Coopération internationale: Centre de recherche MECAM” in the journal of the University of Tunis Joussour.
The article discusses the role played by the University of Tunis in the co-creation of MECAM, introduces the research centre, and reviews the preliminary phase of the centre 2020-2023, before embarking on its main phase for the next six years.
For more information [Download].
Rethinking Islamism beyond jihadi violence: Fighting ideas leaving the sword aside
Julius Dihstelhoff, German Approaches to the Muslim Brotherhood Between Domestic and Foreign Policy, in Elisa Orofino (ed.), Rethinking Islamism beyond jihadi violence: Fighting ideas leaving the sword aside, Vernon Press, 2023.
Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff, Academic Coordinator at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), participated with a chapter on “German Approaches to the Muslim Brotherhood Between Domestic and Foreign Policy” in the recently published edited volume by Vernon Press entitled “Rethinking Islamism beyond jihadi violence: Fighting ideas leaving the sword aside” edited by Elisa Orofino. In this chapter the history of Germany and the Muslim Bortherhood (MB) is analysed. Based on content analysis, central discourses of representatives of German politics as well as MB representatives are explored.
“The edited volume “Rethinking Islamism beyond jihadi violence” makes an important contribution to the scholarship on contemporary Islam and in particular the contested and often misunderstood issue of Islamism. Offering critical, nuanced and differentiated perspectives, the various chapters and the book as a whole examine the theological-historical origin and practices of non-violent Islamism, challenging common misconceptions that position it in (too) close proximity to jihadist violence.” Dr. Mario Peucker
For more information and to buy the book [ online ].
Tunesiens undemokratisches Wahlgesetz
Julius Dihstelhoff/ Mounir Mrad, Tunesiens undemokratisches Wahlgesetz, F.A.Z. Einspruch, 27.01.2023.
The article covers three key issues that contribute to the decline of parliamentarism: the electoral law, the draft constitution and the political opposition.
Explanations and examples are given to show why and to what extent the enormous restructuring of the electoral law contributes to the decline of parliamentarism. The article also analyses the new constitution, based on the draft constitution of Tunisian President Kais Saied, and discusses the restrictions on the legislature and the simultaneous expansion of the executive’s power. The political opposition is seen as an indirect actor contributing to the decline of parliamentarism, not least because of its lack of mobilising power.
F.A.Z. Einspruch is the daily offer of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for lawyers and all those interested in the topics of justice and the law. At the interface between specialist newspaper and information medium. F.A.Z. Einspruch focuses on selected reports, commentaries and analyses from the F.A.Z. universe on current legal and tax topics, written by F.A.Z. editors and renowned columnists with legal expertise.
For more information and to read the essays online.
[Download].
IFG V: Film Projects in the context of “Identities and Beliefs”
How does a social scientist, habituated to written communication, translate their ideas to a visual medium?
This was the challenge posed to the fellows of MECAM’s IFG V on “Identities and Beliefs”, when they participated in a methods school on documentary filmmaking in May 2022. Conceptualized and led by the incomparable Sarra Abidi, the workshop paired participating researchers up with an accomplished documentary filmmaker, who guided them in creating a short film based on their research. Working together, and often collaborating with others along the way, each pair navigated three distinct phases of filmmaking: conceptualization of the narrative, shooting on location, and post-production. The resulting films reflect a special alchemy, produced from the collaboration of creative minds with disparate working methods.A special thanks to filmmakers Sarra Abidi and Ahmed Jlassi for their hard work and brilliance as mentors.
Link: Film entitled “The UGEMA in Tunis” by Elizabeth Bishop
*The UGEMA in Tunis – a comment by Elizabeth Bishop*
As a historian, I’m used to communicating in texts of four or six thousand words with lots of footnotes. It seemed like a challenge to fit the kind of analysis I do best in five minutes of film, and I’m glad Alyssa Miller (postdoctoral research fellow at GIGA, and scientific coordinator for IFG V) posed it. Ahmed Jlassi and I used historical images from Algiers and Tunis, as well as footage we filmed in Tunis, to tell the story of how the French Fourth Republic excluded Algerians from higher education, and how in the Republic of Tunisia between 1955 and 1962 students of UGEMA built futures for themselves and their nation.
Fieldnotes from Bhar Lazreg: Research Methods from the Margins of Tunis
Shreya Parikh, an alumna of IFG V on Identities and Beliefs, has organized the publication of an essay series on Jadaliyya, introduced by an essay written by Parikh herself. The series showcases field observations made by student ethnographers at the École Nationale d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme (ENAU, National School of Architecture and Urbanism) in Sidi Bou Said, in the context of a methods workshop led by Parikh and Professor Cyrine Bouajila in March and April 2022.
The essays reflect the students’ ethnographic encounter with the fieldsite of Bhar Lazreg, an urban neighborhood located in close proximity to La Marsa (a desirable Northern suburb of Tunis), but which is commonly coded in contrast as “dangerous,” “disordered,” and inhabited by Sub-Saharan migrants (and therefore racially black). Seeking to overcome such negative and stigmatizing associations, the students approached Bhar Lazreg and its inhabitants as producers of knowledge in their own right. Setting forth without imposing a strict set of research questions from the outset, the resulting essays not only provide the reader insight on the lifeworlds of Bhar Lazreg, but they offer an honest glimpse of the ethnographic affects (of timidness, doubt, uncertainty) that researchers commonly experience in the early stages of field research, but rarely discuss.
For more information and to read the essays online.
The Post-Arab Spring Social Contract in Tunisia: Social Actors’ Comparative Gains and Losses
Mohamed Ismail Sabri, The Post-Arab Spring Social Contract in Tunisia: Social Actors’ Comparative Gains and Losses, October 26, 2022. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4259102 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4259102
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Sabry is alumni of the IFG IV Resources and Sustainability and published the working paper “The Post-Arab Spring Social Contract in Tunisia: Social Actors’ Comparative Gains and Losses”, which was presented at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in August 2022.
This paper is investigating what are the comparative gains/losses of the different considered social actors in Tunisia from the new post-2011 Social Contract (SC)? The SC is perceived as a product of the prevailing state-society relations and power relations between the main actors in the Tunisian industrial sector. These actors are identified as: the state, big businesspersons (tycoons), businesspeople of small and medium enterprises (entrepreneurs), and labor. The comparative gains/losses of these actors are investigated in terms of two broad contested policy fields: competition and social protection to workers.
For more information and to download the paper.
Eine neue Verfassung für Tunesien? Es droht ein autoritärer Drift!
Julius Dihstelhoff/Mounir Mrad, Eine neue Verfassung für Tunesien? Es droht ein autoritärer Drift!, F.A.Z. Einspruch, 18.07.2022.
This article analyses the draft constitution submitted by the President of the Tunisian Republic Kais Said to a referendum on 25 July 2022 with a focus on the separation of powers, rights and freedoms and the role of religion. Furthermore, the article compares the draft constitution with the vision promoted by Kais Said before his ascension to power, to determine the differences with this vision. The article concludes that the new constitution, which came into force on 25 July 2022, establishes a new political model for Tunisia that lays the framework for a return to an authoritarian presidential system. Although the constitution is presented as a panacea for all the country’s serious problems, this constitutional re-foundation of the state would not be sufficient to solve the country’s multiple crises. F.A.Z also spoke to Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff in its “Einspruch-podcast”.
F.A.Z. Einspruch is the daily offer of the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for lawyers and all those who are interested in topics concerning law and legislation. At the interface of specialist journal and news medium, F.A.Z. Einspruch focuses in terms of content on selected reports, commentaries and analyses from the world of F.A.Z. on current legal and tax topics, written by F.A.Z. editors and renowned columnists with legal expertise.
[Download].
Destination North Africa Syrians’ displacement trajectories to Tunisia
Entanglements of the Maghreb: Cultural and Political Aspects of a Region in Motion
Julius Dihstelhoff/Charlotte Pardey/Rachid Ouaissa/FriederikePannewick (ed.), Entanglements of the Maghreb: Cultural and Political Aspects of a Region in Motion, Bielefeld: transcript, 2021.
The impulse for the recent transformations in the Arab world came from the Maghreb. Research on the region has been on the rise since, yet much remains to be done when it comes to interdisciplinary comparative research. The Maghreb is a heterogeneous region that deserves thorough investigation. This volume focuses on Entanglements as a cross-field and cross-lingual concept to generate a new approach to the region and its inner interdependencies as well as exchanges with other regions. Eminent researchers conceptualize Entanglements through the description of various thematic fields and actors in motion, addressing culture, politics, social affairs and economics.
Book Review on TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research, 02.11.2021 [English version | French version].