Salafism, liberalism, and democratic learning in Tunisia

Abstract

The article charts the rise of the jihadi Salafi movement in Tunisia during the transitional period and analyses the way in which the national attempt to construct a more liberal and democratic system influenced its internal dynamics and debate. It highlights in particular how democratic mechanisms and liberal norms being put in place in Tunisia impacted on the movement and how then this was reflected in its interactions with the other social and political actors in the system. The unique Tunisian environment in which democratic mechanisms and individual liberal freedoms were introduced immediately after the revolution led the jihadi Salafi movement to operate through contradictory behaviour and actions in a process of what can be called ‘stop-start’ democratic learning, which ultimately failed. The novelty of the political arrangements was beneficial to jihadi Salafism initially, as the new liberal environment allowed it to proselytise and organise in the open while railing against democracy and liberalism. In doing so they unwillingly contributed to strengthen the consensus of political actors on the necessity to build a democratic system. However, under the weight of this contradictory attitude, the movement ended up threatening the transition and failed to integrate.

Keywords:

• jihadi Salafism
• Tunisia
• democratisation
• Islamism

Acknowledgements

I am really thankful to Fabio Merone for his input and friendship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The author's analysis in based on extensive field-work. Leaders and many ordinary militants of the wider jihadi movement in its phase of expansion were interviewed. The vast majority of the interviews have been carried out by Fabio Merone. Since the declaration of the group as a terrorist organization access to direct sources because of the new security context is no longer possible. The only way to evaluate the evolution of the group is today limited to the very few statements the group still publishes and to the official statements of the Interior Minister.

2. Another expression used in the youth Salafi milieu when referring to the Salafi public.

3. In some cases people even reported on practicing the hudud.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation in the context of the project ‘From over-estimation to under-estimation: the trajectory of political Islam in five MENA countries.’