Tunisia: Changes and Challenges of Political Transition. MEDPRO Technical Report No. 3/May 2011

For 23 years, a combination of harsh repression and impressive socio-economic development in Tunisia ensured a certain level of stability of Ben Ali’s regime. However, on 14 January 2011, after several weeks of anti-government protests, the President fled the country, revealing the fallacy of the ‘Tunisian model’. While the departure of Ben Ali is an important step towards Tunisia’s political change, the fate of its democratic transition remains uncertain. In light of these changes and challenges, this paper first assesses the factors underpinning the former stability of Ben Ali’s regime; it then investigates the causes of its underlying unsustainability, culminating in the anti-government popular uprising in December 2010-January 2011 and the removal of Ben Ali; finally the paper evaluates the prospects for a real democratic transition in Tunisia, by highlighting the main political and socio-economic challenges that confront the countr

Bringing Social Justice and Human Rights Back In

This report contrasts how European institutional and civil society stakeholders “talk and practice” the Mediterranean into being. Based on extensive stakeholder consultations, it tends to confirm the finding of MEDRESET Work Package 1, namely that EU institutions construct the Mediterranean through three discursive practices: the Mediterranean as a space crucial for EU interests, as a dangerous space and as a diverse geopolitical space. In stark difference to this institutional imaginary, European civil society and grassroots actors are constructing the Mediterranean space through three different discursive practices, namely the Mediterranean as a space in which universal values are being violated; as a space that is economically, but not geopolitically or ideationally, dominated by the EU; and as one where civic space is shrinking and xenophobia, authoritarianism and “wall politics” are prevailing. To rebuild an equal Mediterranean space and a flexible, inclusive and responsive EU role in it, European stakeholders suggest two policy alternatives: a policy of social justice and human rights, and a policy of reconciliation

Youth in the South East Mediterranean Region and the Need for a Political Economy Approach

The paper is the authors’ own elaboration of the POWER2YOUTH research results and research experience. The authors argue for the importance of placing both the problems of youth in the South East Mediterranean, as well as the construction of the youth category itself and the narratives associated with it, within the broader political economy processes of the region. The first part of the paper concentrates on the political economy behind ‘youth problems’, whereas the second part critically analyses ‘youth’ in relation to social change and mobilization

The Tunisian Revolution: An Opportunity for Democratic Transition. MEDPRO Commentary, 24 January 2011

To help promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Tunisia, a new MEDPRO Commentary by Rym Ayadi, Silvia Colombo, Maria Cristina Paciello and Nathalie Tocci calls upon the EU to act quickly on its declaration of support for “a genuine democratic transition” and to consult with political parties both from the transition government and beyond to prepare for the running of the next elections. A positive resolution of this crisis will only be achieved if the internal and external players follow the lessons of successful democratic transitions elsewhere

Towards a More Reflexive EU in the Mediterranean. Final Policy Recommendations of MEDRESET

In MEDRESET’s final policy recommendations, aimed at the new European Parliament, Commission and High Representative, we propose that the EU should become a more reflexive actor in the Mediterranean. Three related steps are key to take into this direction: (1) Substance: Begin to have periodic screening reports of EU policies and the possible harmful effects they have, and set up a study commission to reflect on a new development model for the whole Mediterranean, Europe included. (2) Actors: Work with local non-co-opted civil society and include it in all stages of policy-making towards third countries. (3) Instruments: Come forward with a reconciliation, “do no harm” and dialogue policy

Youth in the South Est Mediterranean Region and the Need for a Political Economy Approach

The paper is the authors’ own elaboration of the Power2Youth research results and research experience. The authors argue for the importance of placing both the problems of youth in the South East Mediterranean, as well as the construction of the youth category itself and the narratives associated with it, within the broader political economy processes of the region. The first part of the paper concentrates on the political economy behind “youth problems”, whereas the second part critically analyses “youth” in relation to social change and mobilization

Public Action towards Youth in Neo-Liberal Morocco: Fostering and Controlling the Unequal Inclusion of the New Generation

The paper is devoted to analysing public action toward youth in Morocco since the 90s in the \ud context of implementation of neo-liberal reform. After providing an historical overview of \ud youth policy in the country, it analyses relevant youth policies in four interrelated domains of \ud public action: employment, family, migration and spatial planning policies

Youth in Tunisia: Trapped Between Public Control and the Neo-Liberal Economy

“Youth” has been a category of public action in Tunisia ever since the country achieved its independence, although the discourse, values and policies associated with it have changed following the different phases of the country’s political economy. The paper provides an analysis of relevant youth policies in four interrelated domains of public action, with a focus on the period since the 90s: family, employment, migration and spatial planning policies