Tunisia: Understanding Conflict 2012 - Johns Hopkins School of ...

legal regulations against potential corruption or abuse that could evolve into the
kind of religious dictatorship many Tunisians fear. In the event of intolerance,
Tunisian citizens must be able to trust that the courts and the constitution will act as a
stronghold against attempts to abuse the freedoms allocated in the name of respecting
religion.
Conclusion
If the architects of the new Tunisian Constitution are able to integrate the desires of their
constituencies seeking religious freedom in the public space, while assuaging the fears of
those who are wary of an Islamic cultural dictatorship, Tunisia will move forward in the
process of national reconciliation. A more organic and nuanced definition of what it
means to be religious, secular and Tunisian—in a way that reflects the reality and
fundamentals of Tunisian society—will also allow Tunisia to present the example of
authentic governance for which the other Arab countries undergoing revolutions are
searching. Given its history of Islamic scholarship, constitutionalism, moderate religious
identity and the presence of significant minorities throughout its history, Tunisia may be
one of the only Arab Spring states with the potential to create a legitimate democracy that
incorporates aspects of Islam.
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