Reshaping Tunisian identity

Abstract

Chapter 6 reveals that Ennahda’s previous underground structures and wide network of sympathisers helped it to quickly gain in relevance after the 2010–11 uprisings. Yet whilst the uprisings took place in response to economic hardship and political repression, discussions in the Constituent Assembly, elected in October 2011, quickly centred on the role of Islam in society. This exposed Ennahda’s leaders to a challenging task: accounting for its frequent compromises—including on issues of religion—with secular parties, to the detriment of its more conservative grassroots, which it increasingly risked losing to the Salafis.