Government–media relations in Tunisia: a paradigm shift in the culture of governance?

Abstract

The removal of the Ben Ali regime from power in Tunisia raised fundamental questions over the future role and structure of the country's media. A new structural relationship with government would have to reflect changes in ownership patterns and a new narrative about the media's future function. The government too had to adjust to a new relationship with the media in a participatory political system in transition. This paper discusses how and why these concepts have developed in the way that they have. The learning processes involved have been more difficult than first imagined, especially for government, and the environment in which the media has operated has become more difficult, a factor which has affected, both the media and its relationship with government. The key events have been elections and the consequences of Ennahda's victory, the assassinations of two prominent political activists and Tunisia's new constitution approved in January 2014. Connected with these events has...