Post-Arab Spring Tunis: Materializing Revolution in the City

Tunis emerges as a paradigmatic case of an Arab revolutionary city, where the aftermath of the Arab Spring continues to shape urban landscapes through incremental, differentiated practices. This study identifies five key sites in Tunis—Medina and Avenue Bourguiba (national public spaces), Avenue Mohamed al-Khamis and Les Banlieues Nords (regime landscapes), and Qsar Bardo (a site of overlapping national and local governance)—as focal points of conflict over identity, heritage, security, and political legitimacy. These sites, endowed with collective memories and symbolic significance, serve as arenas where the new regime and citizens collectively negotiate the city's future. The research employs a multi-scaled approach combining fieldwork, regional analysis, and comparisons with international cases to trace how revolutionary practices materialize in urban spaces, offering insights into the enduring consequences of political transformation on cities.

Qaddumi, D. (2021). Post-Arab Spring Tunis: Materializing Revolution in the City [Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository]. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.72000