Islamism in Tunisia, its nature and prospects

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
A. emadi 1
A. Biglari 2
1 Assistant Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Terhan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, Arak University, Arak, Iran
Abstract
The political discourse of Islamism in Tunisia, which has roots in the intellectual tradition of the Muslim Brotherhood, has undergone significant changes over time, especially following the 2011 revolution. After a brief period of rule from 2011 to 2014, the moderate Islamists led by the Ennahda Movement gradually moved away from the revolutionary and ideological foundations of political Islam and adopted a more pragmatic approach. This study aims to explain how this transition from revolutionary political Islam to pragmatism can be understood. Using MacIntyre's epistemological framework, the analysis suggests that this shift is not merely a tactical political move but also reflects an epistemological crisis within the leaders’ reading of the Brotherhood’s intellectual tradition. Confronted with complex societal crises, Ennahda leaders recognized that solutions based solely on past principles and beliefs were no longer viable. Instead, they saw the need to reassess and reinterpret the Islamic intellectual tradition to address current shortcomings. Their reinterpretation was less about expanding the possibilities within the tradition and more about distancing themselves from traditional principles and criteria, favoring pragmatism and political realism. This reveals that Islamist leaders lack the necessary analytical and intellectual tools to effectively address societal crises, which hindered their ability to develop a systematic and coherent model of Islamic governance grounded in traditional criteria. Going forward, their potential role in Tunisia’s future depends on their capacity to equip themselves with the intellectual tools needed to confront emerging issues and challenges.

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