Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
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Tunisia: Muted Reactions from West Amid Rumors of Coup

January 12th, 2011 by Alec

The riots in Tunisia are becoming more serious, as threats of a potential coup against President Ben Ali emerge, argues Blake Hounshell. He notes that violence and unrest has also exposed a “moderate” and economically well-off nation for what it truly is, one of the Arab world’s “nastiest police states.” Hounshell further explains the muted reaction from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reflects the lack of real influence or interests of the United States in Tunisia.  France, the most influential external player in Tunisia, has had virtually no reaction at all.  The lack of response reflects the quiet French preference of the Ben Ali regime for its generous cooperation on counterterrorism and illegal immigration. French President Nicolas Sarkozy previously warned (French) of the risk of Islamic extremists seizing the country in a power vacuum.  Longstanding policy toward Tunisia also reflects France’s desire for good relations with its former colony, so as not to repeat the Algerian example of the early 1990s.

Update: Writing in Foreign Policy, Bassem Bounennidetails the limits of media censorship in Tunisia.   Bounneni cites a designation of President Ben Ali as a “Predator of Press Freedom” by Reporters Without Borders, and the dominance of private media by Ben Ali’s inner circle.  When the riots began last month, “the regime’s first instinct was to escalate its censorship and intimidation of the media” and launch a “smear campaign against international media outlets.”  He champions new media as a crucial outlet for protesters to broadcast the spiraling discontent of the riots, and dismisses ongoing censorship efforts as futile attempts to preserve a regime on the verge of collapse.


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One Response to “Tunisia: Muted Reactions from West Amid Rumors of Coup”

  1. Welcome | Project on Middle East Democracy Says:

    [...] The chances of a solid transition will therefore also depend on the sustained interest and support of Tunisia’s international allies, namely the US and EU. Yet, if the Tunisian people were able to oust Ben Ali, it was in spite, not because of, Western governments’ actions. [...]

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