After weeks of massive protests, Tunisia's dictatorial President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on Friday. Yesterday, his Prime Minister formed a unity-government, but today four members of the opposition resigned and clashes continued between police and protesters on the streets of Tunis, after a revolution unprecedented in the modern Arab world. Nobody knows if the ousted President Ben Ali will be replaced by democracy, a military coup d'etat or chaos. Whatever the outcome, many Arabs are thrilled for the moment by a popular revolt against repression, corruption and abuses of power. We update events in Tunisia, look at the possible repercussions throughout the Middle East and the consequences for American foreign policy.
Can Tunisia Change the Arab World?
Credits
Guests:
- David D. Kirkpatrick - New York Times - @ddknyt
- Mona Eltahawy - syndicated columnist - @monaeltahawy
- Rami Khouri - syndicated columnist, senior fellow at the Belfer Center and professor of public policy at the American University of Beirut - @RamiKhouri
- Juan Cole - University of Michigan - @jricole