Tunisia

Abstract

As with Chapter 2 for Egypt, so this chapter examines the content, methods, and trajectory of media control under the Bourguiba and Ben Ali regimes, prior to the uprising of 2010–11, based on the observations and experiences of media professionals. It notes a parallel illiberal diversification of ownership, but now weakening of controls on content. It argues that, compared to Egypt, Tunisia’s system was both more restrictive and more centralized. This made it vulnerable when unrest began and has led to a different outcome since 2011.