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Abstract

Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access

The Takfirist Movement from the Perspective of Political Process Theory: A Case Analysis of Tunisia

  • Open or Close Chuchu Zhang*

    Department of politics and international studies, University of Cambridge, UK

    *Corresponding author: Chuchu Zhang, Department of politics and international studies, University of Cambridge, England, UK,

Submission: December 25, 2017; Published: May 10, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/AAOA.2018.01.000525

ISSN: 2577-1949
Volume1 Issue5

Abstract

Through the analysis on the Tunisian case by adopting the Political Process Theory, this article tries to discuss about generalize able rules about Takfirist movements. In doing so, I would examine the context and process of the Tunisian Takfirist movement rising after the Jasmine Revolution by focusing on three variables: political opportunities, organizational strength, and framing process.

I argue that the Tunisian Takfirist movement developed through two stages:

A. During the first two years after the revolution, elite divisions and sudden political openness provided favourable opportunities for Tunisian Takfirist to recover and reorganize existent resources, set up Ansar al-Sharia, and achieve small-scale mobilization through their religious-dogmatic framing efforts.

B. In the second stage, whereas political elites gradually bridged their divergences and the state enhanced national supervision over religion related activities, Ansar al-Sharia managed to expand its organizational strength by establishing linkage networks with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, leading forces of two international Takfirist movements, and arouse resonance among radical young revolutionaries by building the “revolutionary frame”, a combination of both processes enabled the movement to expand its supporting base.

Keywords: Takfirist movement; Tunisia; Political process theory

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