TUNISIA

An Interview with Meherzia Laabidi, VP of the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly

Tunisia has been called the success story of the Arab Spring. Far from the chaos in Syria and the political power struggles in Egypt, Tunisia’s democratic transition has been relatively smooth and successful thus far. The country is close to completing its first draft of the new Constitution, with elections for public office coming up in six months.

Towards A New Constitution: Images of Progress in Tunisia

A few weeks ago, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) hosted a national debate on the drafting of the country’s new constitution. The event was attended by many distinguished guests and speakers. Spread over two days, Friday and Saturday, the gathering featured five sessions on different topics pertaining to the Constitution. The goal of the Conference was not only to inform the Tunisian public about the specifics of the Constitution, but to bring the writers of the constitution and Tunisian citizens together and provide a forum in which they can discuss those specifics together.

Tunisian Youth Speak Out for Peace

Political and social differences sparked tension last week in Tunis, resulting in security alerts and a four-day curfew. Among causes for the clash, Islamist protesters objected to a contemporary art exhibit that displayed works that they deemed heretical (see Letters from Tunisia).

From Arab Spring to Art Spring in Tunis

The “Enchanted Forest” appears both fragile and permanent, multiple and unique. These qualities could describe Rita Alaoui’s marble installation at Printemps Des Arts Fair Tunis 2012 and also the event itself. Alaoui’s tenuous trees, along with the many artists and galleries taking part, hope to provoke, engage and test new boundaries of expression.

Tunis hosts its tenth annual contemporary arts fair at three sites, exhibiting more than 500 works across multiple media and forms. In addition to independent artists, galleries from Sidi Bou Said, La Marsa and La Soukra have presented pieces.

Harnessing Winds of Change (and Entrepreneurship) In Tunisia

A year and a half into the "new" Tunisia, a team of entrepreneurial engineers may revolutionize renewable energy. Hassine Labaied and Anis Aouini of Saphon Energy have introduced a new technology aimed at harnessing and storing wind power. According to its designers, the "Saphonian" captures and stores wind energy more efficiently, cheaply and safely than windmill technology. In the spirit of the Jasmine Revolution: out with the old, in with the new.