Tunisian youth are eager to participate in their country’s democratic transition, but skeptical about available channels. Respondents were nearly unanimous in expressing a genuine desire to participate in Tunisia‘s political transition, particularly through voting in the constituent assembly elections scheduled for July 24, 2011. Such participation is seen as the logical next step for young people who are proud of their role in overthrowing the Ben Ali regime and aspire to oversee the ensuing political transition.
Furthermore, having only witnessed falsified elections, youth voiced profound excitement over the prospect of electing their representatives. Young Tunisians are wary, however, about the political process and the role of the current elite. They express concern about individuals, political parties and civil society organizations attempting to profit from the revolution for personal gains. This reluctance likely stems from a long-standing exclusion of youth, as with most Tunisians, from the political process, a phenomenon that has to a lesser extent extended into the political transition. Political parties, which were co-opted and marginalized under the former regime, have poor standing among youth. While civil society organizations fare slightly better, young people remain suspicious about lending formal support to any organized institutions.