Tunisia’s Autocratisation under President Kais Saied

This widely cited and currently most-read article in Mediterranean Politics provides a concise overview of how the Arab uprisings changed repression in Arab states on the one hand. On the other hand, it points to lacunae in existing repression research and lines out several approaches and themes that are becoming relevant in researching repression in the MENA and beyond.

How do autocrats communicate everyday acts of repression? This paper introduces and analyses a novel dataset on justifications for incidents of repression in Morocco and Tunisia during the years 2000–2010, showing that the chosen forms thereof influence how officials subsequently talk about them.

In the WDR Zeitzeichen History Podcast, Dr. Maria Josua offers insights into the state of democracy in Tunisia since the 2010-11 revolution, analysing the transition process until the current repressive phase.

In diesem Artikel liefert Dr. Maria Josua Einschätzungen zu den politische Strukturen in Tunesien anlässlich der zunehmenden Repression sowie jüngsten Proteste.

Maria Josua commented on the increased repression of candidates ahead of the presidential elections in Tunisia in the context of autocratization. 

From the Gaza War to other regional conflicts and the lasting importance of oil, the Middle East and North Africa region remains pivotal for Europe. We present ten issues that will play a central role in the relationship between both regions in the year ahead.

Democracy will remain strained in Africa, with crucial elections in 2024. Conflict risks may arise alongside the further waning of Western influence. Economic growth will continue, but also structural socio-economic challenges too. Western policymakers should address migration and decarbonisation.

Indonesia’s government strives to confine civic spaces with the help of surveillance, Internet shutdowns, digital attacks, lawfare, as well as online manipulation by so-called buzzers. This is alarming because right-wing populist Prabowo Subianto could win the presidency in 2024.

Bangladesh is standing on the precipice of another controversial and one-sided national election. Against that backdrop, how the country arrived at this political crossroads and what the implications of the election will be for both its domestic stability and foreign relations are assessed.

Caught in an endless cycle of engagement–suspicion–decline, the EU–Arab League relationship, now fractured anew by the Gaza crisis, requires deeper engagement and collaboration, extending beyond traditional security concerns, to break the existing cycle and profoundly reshape diplomatic realities.

Military coups in the Sahel countries have shaken the foundations of Europe’s foreign policy towards the region. Amidst the growing influence of Russia, how should European governments position themselves?

Recent military coups underscore that democratisation is under pressure in Africa. While long-term trends paint a positive picture, current threats to democratisation beyond the coups include socio-economic challenges, violent conflict, power-hungry elites, and external support for autocrats.

Organiser: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Dr. Maria Josua (Consultant)

At a virtual lunch talk, Maria Josua discussed with IMES associate Kressen Thyen and the head of the Naumann foundation's Tunis office Alexander Knipperts how and why the political situation in Tunisia has evolved since the Arab uprisings. They reflected on options to strengthen civil society during the current phase of autocratization.

The paper reveals that the Tunisian Troika (2011–2014) and the Yemeni Coalition Government (1993–1994) internal functioning was hampered by adverse power configurations and ideological differences.

Tunisia’s politial system suffers from problems with governability and proportionality. Electoral reforms were undertaken in 2014, 2017, and 2019, but they were unable to diffuse either of these issues. This paper analyses who stands to gain from previous electoral reform, and why they failed to improve governability and proportionality.

This widely cited and currently most-read article in Mediterranean Politics provides a concise overview of how the Arab uprisings changed repression in Arab states on the one hand. On the other hand, it points to lacunae in existing repression research and lines out several approaches and themes that are becoming relevant in researching repression in the MENA and beyond.

How do autocrats communicate everyday acts of repression? This paper introduces and analyses a novel dataset on justifications for incidents of repression in Morocco and Tunisia during the years 2000–2010, showing that the chosen forms thereof influence how officials subsequently talk about them.