“We Want Global Freedom!”: Ethnographic Observations on Young Lives in Post-Revolution Tunisia
Gort, Amina (2022)
2022
Yhteiskuntatutkimuksen maisteriohjelma - Master's Programme in Social Sciences
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-05-16
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204274031
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204274031
Tiivistelmä
On December 17th, 2010, the self-immolation of a street vendor named Mohammed Bouazizi sparked nationwide upheavals in Tunisia. Bouazizi became a symbol of the youth-led protests, also known as the Arab Spring, that later mobilised people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to demand for work, freedom and dignity. After the long-lasting dictatorship of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the people of Tunisia were ready to risk their lives to demand better living conditions. After Ben Ali’s regime was dismantled on the 14th of January 2011, especially the youth, who were at the forefront of the demonstrations, had optimistic expectations about the future. However, after the revolution, the state has failed to address the pressing challenges related to the economic situation, general grievances and political predicament. Alongside these issues, the state has failed to engage the youth in politics.
Since the Arab Spring, academics have started to demand that attention should be paid to the youth’s realities and living conditions. This study continues that path. At the ten-year anniversary of the events triggering the demonstrations, this thesis provides insights into post-revolution Tunisia in 2020 by examining the lives of a group of Tunisian urban youth. Using ethnographic data collection methods with an emphasis on
participatory observation and informal interviews, this thesis scrutinises the social realities of these young informants. The aim of this study is to examine how the young people studied experience the social reality that Tunisia can offer to its young generation, and how the young people talk about their future options.
In the theoretical section, this study defines the category of youth and discusses the youth bulge, a concept that has controlled the narrative of rapidly developing countries with a large youth population. The social exclusion framework provides a context to the multidimensional challenges the youth are facing in Tunisia. Finally, the concept of waithood explores the impacts of economic marginalisation and failing social and political policies by focusing on the prolonged transition into adulthood.
The results of this study show that the youth still share a sense of alienation. Many of the youth’s daily struggles are connected to economic challenges, which inhibits these young people from experiencing youth and taking steps that are considered part of adulthood. In 2020, the youth were still demanding improvements and opportunities to overcome the sense of global injustice they were experiencing. However, while waiting for improvements, they were also actively searching for ways to manage their lives with the assets they have and trying to live life to the fullest despite their struggles.
Since the Arab Spring, academics have started to demand that attention should be paid to the youth’s realities and living conditions. This study continues that path. At the ten-year anniversary of the events triggering the demonstrations, this thesis provides insights into post-revolution Tunisia in 2020 by examining the lives of a group of Tunisian urban youth. Using ethnographic data collection methods with an emphasis on
participatory observation and informal interviews, this thesis scrutinises the social realities of these young informants. The aim of this study is to examine how the young people studied experience the social reality that Tunisia can offer to its young generation, and how the young people talk about their future options.
In the theoretical section, this study defines the category of youth and discusses the youth bulge, a concept that has controlled the narrative of rapidly developing countries with a large youth population. The social exclusion framework provides a context to the multidimensional challenges the youth are facing in Tunisia. Finally, the concept of waithood explores the impacts of economic marginalisation and failing social and political policies by focusing on the prolonged transition into adulthood.
The results of this study show that the youth still share a sense of alienation. Many of the youth’s daily struggles are connected to economic challenges, which inhibits these young people from experiencing youth and taking steps that are considered part of adulthood. In 2020, the youth were still demanding improvements and opportunities to overcome the sense of global injustice they were experiencing. However, while waiting for improvements, they were also actively searching for ways to manage their lives with the assets they have and trying to live life to the fullest despite their struggles.