Recent book discusses Tunisia’s development model

Tunis, August 20, 2006 (TunisiaOnline)--A recent book authored by Antoine Sfeir, a French-Lebanese political analyst , attempts to explain Tunisia’s prudent reformist approach and its human development policies, especially insofar as education, health, and the role of women in society are concerned.

“Tunisie, Terre de paradoxes” (Tunisia, Land of Paradox), which is published by “Archipel”, a Paris publisher, includes five chapters where the author reviews with a great wealth of details , statistical analysis and subtlety, Tunisia’s evolution as triggered by the thought of such great reformers as Kheireddine Tounsi, Habib Bourguiba, and President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Another feature of the book is its style: sober and easy-read.

“Instead of the backward society the Islamist fundamentalists wanted to set up, Ben Ali has made possible the emergence of a new country based on this ancient tradition of openness and progress initiated by Kheireddine Tounsi “, writes Antoine Sfeir, who adds that “ endowed with limited natural resources, Tunisia keeps moving forward because its President has bet on the will power of Tunisians and not on the fluctuations of oil prices”.

Addressing the audience that came for a signing ceremony at a major book shop at La Marsa, North of the capital, the writer stressed the importance of Tunisia’s political reform process, set in motion during the last two decade by President Ben Ali, namely the various constitutional revisions, the modernization of the judiciary, women's reforms, the liberation of prisoners, the opening up of the Chamber of Deputies to members of the opposition,....
The author highlighted the importance of the role of the Tunisian state in ensuring stability and fighting terrorism. He also noted that that “the mistake made by many French speakers in particular and Westerners in general, is to assess the work done by Tunisia in comparison with a country whose language is spoken or in the light of its openness to Western culture."
Born in Beirut in 1948, Antoine Sfeir is one of France’s major specialists on the Arab world. He is also both a journalist and political analyst and is the Current editor of the “Cahiers de l’Orient” which publishes in- depth reports on the Arab world.
His other major publications include: “Les Reseaux d’Allah”, ‘’ Le Dictionnaire Mondial de l’Islamisme ‘’ and ‘’La Republique face au Communautarisme’’.