Publication

This paper argues that, contrary to popular assumption, the Tunisian revolution in 2010 had a strong rural aspect. The author particularly looks at the demographics and history of the cities of Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid, where the demonstrations against the regime started. He finds that the two cities have the highest rates of rurality in the country. Moreover, his findings suggest that almost half of the demonstrators lived in rural areas, in stark contrast to the popular image of a revolution led by urban students.