After independence from France in 1956, the Republic of Tunisia engaged in significant reforms to create a modern state under the rule of a political class led by the first president, Habib Bourguiba. Since then, Tunisia has seen two major political changes: in 1987, Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali removed H. Bourguiba from office in a bloodless coup and in December 2010, a popular uprising broke out and eventually forced President Ben Ali out of office to flee the country on 14 January 2011. A transitional government was nominated until the new constitution was ratified in January Despite the success of the democratic transition and the adoption of a new constitution and laws that are more respectful of human rights and freedoms, Tunisia is still facing burdens of economic crisis reflected in high unemployment rate and deterioration of citizens’ purchasing power in the face of rise in the prices of basic commodities. Political division deepened the crisis since it obstructed the work of successive governments in making reforms and issuing relevant laws. Besides, terrorism and religious extremism, with repercussions of the war in neighbouring Libya, have become the main factors for spreading fear, instability and the flight of investments out of the country. These factors can jeopardize Tunisia’s successful political democratic transition.
