Youth and Revolution in Tunisia (African Arguments) - Softcover

Honwana, Alcinda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1780324618 ISBN 13: 9781780324616

Publisher: Zed Books, 2013

Synopsis

The uprising in Tunisia in late 2010 and early 2011 has come to be seen as the first true revolution of the 21st Century, one that kick-started the series of upheavals across the region now known as the Arab Spring. Alcinda Honwana goes beyond superficial accounts of what occurred to explore the defining role of the country's youth, and in particular the cyberactivist.

Drawing on fresh, first-person testimony from those who shaped events, the book describes in detail the experiences of young activists through the 29 days of the revolution and the challenges they encountered after the fall of the regime and the dismantling of the ruling party. Now, as old and newly established political forces are moving into the political void created by Ben Ali's departure, tensions between the older and younger generations are sharpening.

An essential account of an event that has inspired the world, and its potential repercussions for the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

About this title

About the Author

Alcinda Honwana has been Professor and Chair in International Development at the Open University (OU) in the UK, where she also directed the International Development Centre (IDC), a research program focused on issues of international human development. Before joining the OU, Honwana worked for the Social Science Research Council in New York, where she directed the Children and Armed Conflict Program and the Africa Program. She lectured Anthropology at the Universities Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, University of Cape Town in South Africa, and the New School for Social Research in New York. Honwana also worked for the United Nations as research coordinator in the Office of the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict. Honwana was awarded the prestigious Prince Claus Chair for Development and Equity by the Institute of Social Studies and University of Utrecht in 2008. She served as a member of the Board of the Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and on the Board of Directors of the African Studies Association (ASA) in the USA.

Review

'Alcinda Honwana's study of the Tunisian revolution is remarkable for its extensive use of the views of Tunisia's youth about the roles they played and the marginalisation they feel over the events of 2010 and 2011. Her book gives us a rare insight into the way in which the downfall of the Ben Ali regime was encompassed and what has happened to the aspirations of those most immediately involved. As such it is an invaluable addition to our knowledge of the wider revolution in the Arab world today.' George Joffe, Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge 'Alcinda's book is an excellent analysis of the youth's contribution in the Tunisian revolution. This comes as no surprise as Alcinda was able to build excellent relations with the youth who spoke with her openly about their role in the revolution as well as their hopes about the future.' Hakim Ben Hammouda, special advisor to the president of the African Development Bank and former chief economist and sirector of the Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 'A uniquely insightful study on how a revolutionary process in the Arab world began.' George Joffe, University of Cambridge

Edition details

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1780324618
• ISBN 13: 9781780324616
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 264