Download PDF Tunisia An Arab Anomaly Safwan M Masri Lisa Anderson 9780231179515 Books

Product details Paperback 416 pages Publisher Columbia University Press; Reprint edition (March 26, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 0231179510

Tunisia An Arab Anomaly Safwan M Masri Lisa Anderson 9780231179515 Books Reviews

• Tapping into his Arab upbringing and American education and career, Professor Masri provides a nuanced account of how Tunisia has, so far, succeeded in emerging from the so-called Arab Spring triumphant, while other Arab states have not.
  
  For those who witnessed, remember or know how the history of modern Tunisia unfolded, this book connects the dots between different events, past and present, in a way that contextualizes Tunisia’s path to success in a thought provoking way.
  
  If this is your first foray into Tunisia, there is no better place to start.
• In his book, Safwan Masri, enlightens the reader to the mesmerizing historical, social, cultural and ideological foundations of Tunisia which allowed it to transition to democracy in contrast to other Arab countries which failed. As a woman, I was especially fascinated to learn of this country’s crucial realization of the empowerment of women through education, health care and in the work place as essential to achieving this success. Equipped with a superb foundation of the fundamentals of democracy from Masri’s work, one can’t help but ponder the provocative parallels to current events in our own country which could threaten this process. The grace of the author’s writing is that he synthesizes complex issues into terms that can be understood by either the scholar or the layman. Tunisia, An Arab Anomaly, is a work of vital importance especially in today’s world which reads like a page turning thriller; I absolutely loved it!
  M. Lafiteau
• Excellent read for anyone trying to get an insight into why Tunisia is in the situation it is in now. Going back in history, Dr.Masri gives a detailed account of the events and developments that have built up and led to the Arab spring starting in Tunisia. More importantly he explains why in the case of Tunisia, unlike the rest of the Arab world, the many years of social reform, education, and civil society groundwork have protected the revolution and set it on a path different from the rest of the region.
• Dr. Masri brings to life Tunisia as a truly unique story that not only sparked the ‘Arab Spring’ but also uniquely serves as a model for an Arab society that has hope for success. It is a great work by an author who combined the highest standards of academic rigor with an authenticity that could only have come from a man with his unique personal experience. The book could not be more timely when considering the current social upheaval in the Arab world - especially as we try to figure out the root causes of these ailments and navigate the way forward for this vital region.
• As an MBA student taking a course on the business environment in Tunisia, I found this book ideal to help me understand, in full detail, the various historical, political, and social factors that have shaped Tunisia into the progressive country it is today.
• Fascinating read! Reading about Tunisia's progressive democracy gives hope to all people who aspire to shed the shackles of theocracies, dictatorships and dystopian rule.
• Tunisia stands out as an anomaly of the Arab Spring, avoiding the pitfalls of renewed tyranny, violent uprisings by radical sects, or descent in the chaos of civil war. Instead it has forged a unique path in the region, installing a relatively stable democracy. Safwan Masri set out to explain the reasons for Tunisia's success in this book.
  
  Masri argues that Tunisia's developments since the mid 19th century, particularly an emphasis on education, paved the way for a more progressive society that, while finding a common identity in Islamic and Arabic culture, was able to incorporate a great deal of western and secular thought. Masri makes sure to include the history of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Berbers, Arabs, Ottomans, and French in relation to Tunisa, and the dynamics by which these states impacted the development of a Tunisian identity.
  
  The bulk of the book focuses on Tunisia from the 19th century onward. The various scholars, monarchs, politicians, and labor unions all had their roles to play. In particular, Masri argues that education played the development of modern Tunisia. Education makes frequent appearances throughout the book and is the focus of the last three chapters. While education does quite often occupy the front seat, Masri does cover a vast array of topics and characters in Tunisian history. Women's rights, labor unions, colonial institutions, civic participation, and comparisons with other Arab and Islamic states make the book very well rounded.
  
  There are only a couple complaints I have with the book. The largest is that it is in an odd order, using the first few chapters to describe the Jasmine Revolution, bringing up figures whose roles are not made clear until chapters later. Then it goes through the entire history of Tunisia before coming back to modern events. Also, the couple decades of Ben Ali's rule are largely glossed over, other than education reform.
  
  All in all, the book is well worth the read. It is a detailed study of a country that is rarely brought up on the world stage, and deserves more attention than it recieves.