2. Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution Demands Dignity

This chapter examines the historical background and political economy causal factors leading up to Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that removed from power the dictator Zain al-Abidine Ben Ali. Comparisons are presented between Tunisia’s case and those of Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Syria, which also experienced their own “Arab Awakening” uprisings and revolutions. In 2011, pro-democracy movements erupted to the surface and ousted dictators and regimes from power. The protest movements of the Arab Awakening “weaponized” defiance with massive non-violent—albeit angry—street protests and demonstrations. All of these uprisings and revolutions have been inspired by Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution, which demanded freedoms, rights, and dignity. The impetus for Tunisia’s revolution was Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire on December 17, 2010. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, Tunisia has remained committed to non-violent transitions through political dialogue, negotiations, and compromises in the spirit of preserving and protecting its nascent democracy.