Publication

This paper assesses the growth of Salafi-jihadi movements in Tunisia since former president Ben Ali's ouster in January 2011. The authors first explore the roots of Salafi-jihadism and the spread of their jihadi ideology in the country. They argue that it is due to 1) Ben Ali’s monopolization of the religious sphere and neglect of socioeconomic issues; and 2) Ennahdha's (major Islamist religious movement and political party) failure to strike a balance between politics and religion and consolidate its political standing. To address this issue, the authors suggest that the Tunisian government and other political and religious actors work together on a de-radicalization strategy that brings reform in both the political and the religious sphere.