Policing the Medina: Public Order in Tunis at the Time of the Tanzimat (1857–1864)

Modernization in the Medina of Tunis during the Tanzimat era (1857–1864) was not a linear process but one marked by continuity and complex negotiation. This study challenges traditional narratives by re-evaluating pre-Tanzimat institutions, revealing their enduring influence on the reform process. Through analysis of unpublished annals from the sheikh al-madîna and archival records of new police forces, it demonstrates that modernization involved intricate interactions between imperial structures, local notables, and urban populations. This approach offers a critical lens to understand the nature of modernity in an Ottoman province under European colonial pressures, highlighting the nuanced interplay between institutional change and social dynamics.

Nora Lafi. (2017). Policing the Medina: Public Order in Tunis at the Time of the Tanzimat (1857–1864). Journal of the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association, 4(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.2979/jottturstuass.4.1.04