ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book demonstrates that the role of civil society has been important as Tunisian civil society organisations (CSOs) have played a democratising role in the country’s transition through activities aimed at the monitoring and oversight of governmental decisions and procedures and through engaging in a process of bottom-up, reflective democratic learning. Tunisian civil society was limited and restrained under colonialism and authoritarianism yet it played an influential role during the revolution and in the democratic transition. The vibrancy of civil society that existed at independence was lost in the post-independence era. Tunisia’s historical experience and strong institutions placed the country in a position that was more conducive to the successful completion of a democratic transition. How CSOs engage with each other is important for understanding the extent of their political civility.
