GSG Summer School on Arab Spring Transitions in Sousse

Globalisation Studies Groningen’s Summer School on Arab Spring Transitions in Sousse, organized by Professor Amor Boubakri, Dr. Christopher K. Lamont, and Ms. Hannah Pannwitz, was held from 4 – 13 August 2014, marking our third annual summer school held in cooperation with the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Sousse. Our Sousse Summer School has been made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tunis. This year, our special focus on the theme of elections and citizenship provided our students with a unique and timely insight into transition processes in the Middle East and North Africa.

A Diverse Student Body and an International Organizational Team
This year we welcomed a dynamic cohort of students from Colombia, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. We also welcomed the participation of two new university partners, the Faculty of Law at the University of Alexandria in Egypt, and the Justice Studies Department at Montclair State University in the United States. Professor Mohamed Arafa represented the University of Alexandria, and Dr. Arnaud Kurze represented Montclair State University. At the University of Sousse, Professor Amor Boubakri led the organizational team in Sousse, in cooperation with Professor Ridha Jenayah, Professor Karim Chataya, and Aymen Zaghdoudi.

A Dynamic Academic Program with Insights from Leading Experts
The academic program included classes taught by lecturers from the University of Sousse, the University of Groningen, the University of Gabes, Alexandria University, and Montclair State University. Indeed, students were provided an introduction to Islamic Law by Professor Arafa from Egypt, insights into Tunisia’s transition by two former members of Tunisia’s post-revolutionary governing body, Amin Mafoudh and Ridha Jenayah. Furthermore, students also received an introduction to the role of the media in Tunisian elections by Aymen Zaghdoudi, a lecturer at the University of Gabes in Tunisia. In addition, Dr. Arnaud Kurze delivered lectures on elections and youth participation, and Dr. Chris Lamont spoke on Libya’s transition.

Meet an Ambassador and Prime Minister
An important component of the summer school included visits to local political parties, civil society organizations, an electoral field office, and a reception at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tunis. Our students were provided with the unique opportunity to hear presentations from major Tunisian political parties such as Ennahdha, Nida Tounes, the Popular Front, and Afek Tunis. In fact, at our meeting with Ennahdha students were able to meet with former Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh.

In addition to meeting with political party representatives, our students met with a number of Tunisian civil society organizations, including the Tunisian League of Human Rights (the oldest human rights organization in the Arab world), Femme Democrat (a women’s rights organization), and Amnesty International in Tunisia.

Students also were taken on a tour of the Sousse Electoral Field Office, which is tasked with registering voters for Tunisia’s upcoming landmark parliamentary and presidential elections. At the field office, students were given an introduction to the voter registration and electoral process.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also invited our students to a reception at the Ambassador’s residence in Tunis. During the reception, students were able to sit down with the Ambassador for a question and answer session and were also able to meet with Embassy staff.

Furthermore, our students were also treated to weekend excursions to the ancient Roman amphitheater in El Djem, the historic coastal town of Mehdia, the hometown of former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba in Monastir, and the historic city of Kairouan.

A Unique Cultural and Educational Experience
Globalisation Studies Groningen has provided students from Groningen, Sousse, and abroad with a unique cultural and educational experience through the Sousse Summer School program. This year, in addition to the educational program and excursions, we also provided students with the opportunity to be housed with host families, which proved to be an exceptionally rewarding experience as students were invited to attend a number of social events with their hosts. We look forward to building upon our past successes, expanding our strategic relationship with our university partners in Sousse, and welcoming a new cohort of students to Sousse in 2015.