The Arab Spring began and ended with Tunisia. In a region beset by brutal repression
humanitarian disasters and civil war Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution alone gave way to a
peaceful transition to a functioning democracy. Within four short years Tunisians passed a
progressive constitution held fair parliamentary elections and ushered in the country's
first-ever democratically elected president. But did Tunisia simply avoid the misfortunes that
befell its neighbors or were there particular features that set the country apart and made it
a special case? In Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly Safwan M. Masri explores the factors that have
shaped the country's exceptional experience. He traces Tunisia's history of reform in the
realms of education religion and women's rights arguing that the seeds for today's
relatively liberal and democratic society were planted as far back as the middle of the
nineteenth century. Masri argues that Tunisia stands out not as a model that can be replicated
in other Arab countries but rather as an anomaly as its history of reformism set it on a
separate trajectory from the rest of the region. The narrative explores notions of identity
the relationship between Islam and society and the hegemonic role of religion in shaping
educational social and political agendas across the Arab region. Based on interviews with
dozens of experts leaders activists and ordinary citizens and a synthesis of a rich body of
knowledge Masri provides a sensitive often personal account that is critical for
understanding not only Tunisia but also the broader Arab world.
