Archive for 'Tag Archives: 'tunisia''

Understanding Calls to a Caliphate

Understanding Calls to a Caliphate

Reza Pankhurst A piece in the Economist entitled “Dreaming of a Caliphate” investigates how some thinkers are struggling with the concept of Islamic rule in the “modern” age where it appears the only acceptable polity is that of [...]

An open letter to Rashid al Ghannouchi

An open letter to Rashid al Ghannouchi

Idries de Vries Sheikh Rashid, On the 23rd of October 2011, during the first “free” elections in Tunisia following the departure of the tyrant dictator Ben Ali, the 60% of Tunisians eligible to vote that actually [...]

Ghannushi’s Political Paradoxes: the Islamic Secular?

Ghannushi’s Political Paradoxes: the Islamic Secular?

Dr. Abdul Wahid In early March 2012, Rashid al-Ghannushi—the well-known thinker and leader of Ennahda, the political party that fared best in Tunisia’s recent elections—addressed a small audience from Tunisia’s elite at the Centre for the [...]

The Bitter Arab Winter and our Colonial Legacy

The Bitter Arab Winter and our Colonial Legacy

The Arab Spring has created, as any revolution would, a sense of urgency. An unprecedented series of events which came with speed and new opportunities on the political scene has largely debilitated our ability to be [...]

Tunisia’s EnNahda: between Apologism and Imitation

Tunisia’s EnNahda: between Apologism and Imitation

People across the world have eagerly watched Tunisia’s first ‘Post Ben-Ali’ elections, with some western commentators voicing concerns about the Ennahda party taking the largest share of the vote. These elections for the ‘constituent assembly’ are [...]

Tunisia Elections – upholding Secularism?

Tunisia Elections – upholding Secularism?

The Tunisian elections have courted much interest, with the elections viewed as another piece in the Arab Spring. The elections have received much praise because of the 90 per cent voter turnout and the transparent manner [...]