[Maghrebia] Politics and labour are the honour of the Tunisian town of El Hamma. Located 480km south of the capital, it was the birthplace of such illustrious activists and thinkers as Mohamed Daghbaji, Tahar Haddad and Mohamed Ali El Hammi.Last week, the historic city hosted a three-day seminar on the future of transition and ways to build a robust democracy in Tunisia. Activists and thinkers representing the full spectrum of political ideas gathered at the event, which ended on Monday (March 21st).
Though the years of political repression are gone, civil society actors and academics haven't yet voiced their ideas about the country's future model. The absence of an appropriate conceptual framework accounts for the difficulty of successful transition, according to experts.
In this regard, Syrian researcher Abdallah Tourkmani, who lives in Tunisia, considered that intellectuals and political elites need to form a national consensus or what is known as "historical community" in order to complete the democratic reform.
There are two scenarios that could emerge in the wake of the revolution, according to Tourkmani. The first is based on national reconciliation, pluralism and dialogue, which would pave the way for a secure democratic transformation. The second is a descent into chaos. What will enable the revolution to achieve its objective is the formation of an inclusive "historical community", he said.
Habib Marsit, academic and president of the Tunisian branch of Amnesty International, said that human rights principles should be at the heart of Tunisia's political reforms in order to build a new state. It includes either bringing to justice human rights violators from the old guard or vindicating the rights of those subjected to the violations.
The revolution is a "birth of new society from the womb of an old society" and "the construction of the new power of people", according to lawyer Abdennaceur Aouini. He stressed the need for a system that reflects and translated the legitimacy of the revolution and eliminates the bureaucratic authority.
"Freedom is the ultimate purpose of the revolution," said academic researcher Jamel Draouil. Tunisia. Activists and thinkers representing the full spectrum of political ideas gathered at the event, which ended on Monday (March 21st).
Though the years of political repression are gone, civil society actors and academics haven't yet voiced their ideas about the country's future model. The absence of an appropriate conceptual framework accounts for the difficulty of successful transition, according to experts.
In this regard, Syrian researcher Abdallah Tourkmani, who lives in Tunisia, considered that intellectuals and political elites need to form a national consensus or what is known as "historical community" in order to complete the democratic reform.
There are two scenarios that could emerge in the wake of the revolution, according to Tourkmani. The first is based on national reconciliation, pluralism and dialogue, which would pave the way for a secure democratic transformation. The second is a descent into chaos. What will enable the revolution to achieve its objective is the formation of an inclusive "historical community", he said.
Habib Marsit, academic and president of the Tunisian branch of
...which often include carefully measured allowances of
freedomat the convenience of the state...
principles should be at the heart of Tunisia's political reforms in order to build a new state. It includes either bringing to justice human rights violators from the old guard or vindicating the rights of those subjected to the violations.
The revolution is a "birth of new society from the womb of an old society" and "the construction of the new power of people", according to lawyer Abdennaceur Aouini. He stressed the need for a system that reflects and translated the legitimacy of the revolution and eliminates the bureaucratic authority.
"Freedom is the ultimate purpose of the revolution," said academic researcher Jamel Draouil.