Public Sphere: Power and Counter-powers in Post-Revolutionary Tunisia

Abstract

In this paper, the author tries to explain how traditional culture and remnants of authoritarianism hamper the transi- tional democratic process in the aftermath of Tunisian revolution. Public sphere is steadily growing but seems barely auto- nomous with regard to the State hegemony on society. The hegemony of patriarchal mentality makes public sphere subjugated to the former regime authoritarian institutions. There is antinomy conflict between communitarian social bonds and liberal indi- vidualism, and somewhat, between the local culture and modern universal values. We wonder if achieving a new constitution and implementing the road map requisitesunderpina steady democracy? Otherwise, economic downturn and unsustainable devel- opment would entail the democratic process failure. Obedience, allegiance and subjugation to the ruling power are broken by the social uprising and have paved the way to the development of a public sphere, advocating free discourse. However, the top-down governementality which is stressing on regulation and control of society doesnt guarantee a continuous free public sphere. Though, civil society activists claim neutralizing State institutions, separation and balance of powers in order to ensure a suc- cessful democratic transition by fair and free elections. The claimed lynching of NidaaTounesi Movement coordinator Lotfi- Naqdh ii (October, 18th, 2012), the assassination of Patriotic and Democratic Movement leader, ChokriBelai diii, in February 6th 2013, and the killing of Mohamed Brahmi, ANC representative and People Movements leader in July, 25, 2013. The Military coup after popular protests against Moslem Brotherhoods authoritarianism in Egypt constituted, somehow, a noticeable shift of political stage in socalled Arab Spring. The opposition parties and independent civil society power networks called for a national debate on the second phase of the democratic transitional process. Although, Tunisia succeeded to implement a con- sensus in drafting a final constitution approved by both secularists and Islamists. However, the democratic process is still vul- nerable and exposed to reversibility toward a new authoritarianism form of government. A real democratization needs a sus- tainable economic and social development along with a free public sphere.