ABSTRACT
The aspirations of Tunisians inspired citizens across the Middle East and North Africa to call for similar change. As the birthplace of the Arab uprisings, Tunisia’s transition has been supported by several factors. A small country with a relatively homogenous population and limited experience of division along ethnic or religious lines, Tunisian societal patterns were reinforced by Ottoman and then French colonial powers who viewed the region as a hinterland of sorts. The legacy of Tunisian bureaucracy, dating back to the French mandate, served a positive function at this delicate time, because public servants, keen to maintain the relative job security of the public sector, were willing to return to work, even in the face of questions about political leadership. The National Constituent Assembly elections marked a critical step in Tunisia’s transition to democracy. Tunisia has survived the important first chapters of its transition, aided by its unique brand of pluralism and a balance of power between key political factions.
