Tunisian revolution

"December Revolution" redirects here. For the Russian uprising of 1825, see Decembrist revolt. For the 1828 coup in Argentina, see Decembrist revolution (Argentina).

Tunisian revolution
الثورة التونسية (Arabic)
Part of the Arab Spring
Date17 December 2010 – 14 January 2011
(4 weeks)
Location
Tunisia
Caused by
Methods
Resulted in
Casualties
Death(s)338[7]
Injuries2,147[7]
Part of a series on the
History of Tunisia
Partie de la coste de Barbarie en Africque où sont les royaumes de Tunis et de Tripoli et pays circonvoisins - par le Sr Sanson d'Abbeville
Prehistoric
Prehistory
Ancient
Carthage12th C.–146 BC
1st Roman (Province)146 BC–435
Vandal435–534
2nd Roman (Byzantine) / Byzantine North Africa534–698
Prefecture534–590
Exarchate590–698
Early Islamic
Umayyad698–750
Abbasid750–800
Aghlabid800–909
Fatimid909–973
Medieval
Zirid973–1148
Norman1148–1160
Almohad1160–1229
Hafsid1229–1574
Early modern
Ottoman 1574–1705
Husainid 1705–1881
Modern
French Tunisia 1881–1956
Kingdom of Tunisia 1956–1957
Bourguiba rule 1957–1987
Ben Ali coup 1987
Ben Ali rule 1987–2011
Tunisian revolution 2011
Parliamentary system 2011–present
map Africa portal • History portal

The Tunisian revolution (Arabic: الثورة التونسية), also called the Jasmine Revolution and Tunisian Revolution of Dignity,[8][9][10] was an intensive 28-day campaign of civil resistance. It included a series of street demonstrations which took place in Tunisia, and led to the ousting of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.[11] It eventually led to a thorough democratization of the country and to free and democratic elections, which had led to people believing it was the only successful movement in the Arab Spring.[12]

The demonstrations were caused by high unemployment, food inflation, corruption,[13][14] a lack of political freedoms (such as freedom of speech),[15] and poor living conditions. The protests constituted the most dramatic wave of social and political unrest in Tunisia in three decades[16][17] and resulted in scores of deaths and injuries, most of which were the result of action by police and security forces.

The protests were sparked by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi on 17 December 2010.[18][19][20] They led to the ousting of Ben Ali on 14 January 2011, when he officially resigned after fleeing to Saudi Arabia, ending his 23 years in power.[21][22] Labor unions were an integral part of the protests.[23] The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet was awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for "its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Tunisian Revolution of 2011".[24] The protests inspired similar actions throughout the Arab world, in a chain reaction which became known as the Arab Spring movement.

Clashes during the revolution resulted in 338 deaths and 2,174 injuries.[25]

  1. ^ Willsher, Kim (27 February 2011). "Tunisian prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi resigns amid unrest". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Tunisia forms national unity government amid unrest". BBC News. 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Tunisia dissolves Ben Ali party". Al Jazeera. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  4. ^ Beaumont, Peter (19 January 2011). "Tunisia set to release political prisoners". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Tunisia election delayed until 23 October". Reuters. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Thousands protest before Tunisia crisis talks". Reuters. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b Report: 338 killed during Tunisia revolution . Associated Press via FoxNews. 5 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Tunisia Dossier: The Tunisian Revolution of Dignity". Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  9. ^ Aleya-Sghaier, Amira (2012). "The Tunisian Revolution: The Revolution of Dignity". The Journal of the Middle East and Africa. 3: 18–45. doi:10.1080/21520844.2012.675545. S2CID 144602886. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Enough with the 'Jasmine Revolution' narrative: Tunisians demand dignity". Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023. Let's say no to "jasmine" and stick to the name that was enshrined in our new constitution - the Tunisian Revolution of Dignity -to remind ourselves where our common efforts must remain focused.
  11. ^ Wolf, Anne (2023). Ben Ali's Tunisia: Power and Contention in an Authoritarian Regime. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-286850-3.
  12. ^ Ryan, Yasmine (26 January 2011). "How Tunisia's revolution began – Features". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  13. ^ "A Snapshot of Corruption in Tunisia". Business Anti-Corruption Portal. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  14. ^ Spencer, Richard (13 January 2011). "Tunisia riots: Reform or be overthrown, US tells Arab states amid fresh riots". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  15. ^ Ryan, Yasmine. "Tunisia's bitter cyberwar". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Tunisia's Protest Wave: Where It Comes From and What It Means for Ben Ali | The Middle East Channel". Mideast.foreignpolicy.com. 3 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  17. ^ Borger, Julian (29 December 2010). "Tunisian president vows to punish rioters after worst unrest in a decade". The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  18. ^ Tunisia suicide protester Mohammed Bouazizi dies Archived 24 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 5 January 2011.
  19. ^ Fahim, Kareem (21 January 2011). "Slap to a Man's Pride Set Off Tumult in Tunisia". The New York Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  20. ^ Worth, Robert F. (21 January 2011). "How a Single Match Can Ignite a Revolution". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  21. ^ Davies, Wyre (15 December 2010). "Tunisia: President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali forced out". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Uprising in Tunisia: People Power topples Ben Ali regime". Indybay. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  23. ^ "Trade unions: the revolutionary social network at play in Egypt and Tunisia". Defenddemocracy.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  24. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 2015 – Press Release". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Police tunisienne: les syndicats dénoncent la justice militaire". jeune afrique.