Echoes of Bourguibism in
Tunisian society
Apolitical meanings of Jasmine
revolution
Jakub Kydlíček
Center of African studies
University of West Bohemia
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Research questions
• Why Tunisia?
- „tunisian“ exception due to „citizenship“?
• Picture of Bourguiba as a frame of
identity?
- „belle époque“ as utopia of the past?
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Methodology
• Discourse analysis within
targeted groups
• Participant observation
and semi-structured
questioning
• Random sample –
taxi/louage drivers, hotel
staff
• Analysis of press, media
and internet expressions
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Birth of „tunisian society“
• French impact – acquisiton of western
political terms into tunisian nationalist
mind
• Reflections of „bourguibism“
- commentary as frame for definition of
ideology (Ch. Micaud)
• Creation of middle class trough
bourguibist pragamtic reforms
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
• a. Dignity (individual and collective) with the "promotion of
human," which calls for national self-determination. This
dignity, however, could be not satisfied with the acquisition
of independence, but has to continue through the
development of democracy.
• b. The belief in human solidarity - as factor justifying the
nationalist aspect as well as economic aspect of development,
designed to move towards a democracy. It is the pursuit for
national cohesion that excludes tribalism and leftist
traditionalism.
• c. Confidence in the power of reason, which is the result of the
pro-Western discourse of scientific and critical thinking.
Reason is the adoption of realism and pragmatism. This
approach is convenanting with Bourguiba promoted
"politique des étapes". Patient pragmatism is the opposite of
revolutionary dogmatism or sentimentality, which are just a
form of irrationality. (Micaud, 1964)
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Bourguiba as rethorical strategy
(based on random sample of ca. 30 taxi drivers)
• Arab persuasive techniques :
- Presentation as a proof (B. J. Koch, 1983)
- creating social interaction vs. information transfer
- Repetitive figures
ّ
- ‫يخطط‬
‫( يح ّدد و‬defines and delimits), ‫التخريب و التدمير‬
(destruction and demolition)
- „Argumentum ad fontem“
- commemoration of historical fact for justifying of
present act
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Keywords
(and posssible categories)
• „leader“ / „zacīm“
•
(“zaïm”)
• Cult of personality : „père
de la nation“,
„père de l'indépendence“
• Posts :
„président“,
„Chef de l’État“,
„Chef de Gouvernement“,
„Homme d‘État“
Acts :
„libérateur de la Tunisie“,
„fondateur de la Tunisie
moderne“,
„combattant
suprême“/„al-Mudjahid
al-Akbar“
„Bānī Tūnis al-Jadīd“
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Young generation
 Infijar sukani and young generation with no job
opportunities – colapsed concept of „Universities as symbol
of succes“
 Bourguibism as aculturated competence
- acculturation based on…
shared symbols (Bourguiba in every place)
language (QED)
and determined by …
lack of alternative worldview (defeat of
islamism, RCD dominance)
 Bourguibism as the only hope
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
www.bourguiba.com
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Case study : Bouazizi
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
 First protests – similarities
with Bread riots in 80s
 „martyrisation“ of
Bouazizi
 Uprising for middle class
 Possible scenario :
collapse of „tunisian
identity“?
 neo-bourguibism
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia
Thank you for your attention
Jakub Kydlíček, Centre of African studies,
University of West Bohemia