Thursday, September 10, 2009

Democracy, Tunisian style

Tunisia has been praised as peaceful and competitive, but its next election will have little to do with democracy

Brian Whitaker
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 September 2009

"Tunisia is the most peaceful country in Africa, according to the latest Global Peace Index. It is also the top African country in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index.
The news has clearly delighted the Tunisian government........

But let's look more closely at the "correctness" of Tunisia's national choices.

Despite some important achievements in the field of women's rights, Tunisia has one of the Arab world's most repressive regimes. It generally escapes criticism by keeping out of international conflicts and dressing up its political system to look vaguely democratic.

President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali is also rather smart. He seized power in 1987......."

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