Tunisia

Overview: Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956.

Statistics: A few interesting statistics about Tunisia, the population of Tunisia is 10,250,000 people, and the average life expectancy is 74 years old. For more information on Tunisia statistics feel free to visit this site, [|Click here for the website]

Geography: Geography: Tunisia is at the northern bulge of Africa, it sticks out toward Sicily to mark the division between the eastern and western Mediterranean Sea.



History: Tunisia refused to break relations with the U.S. during the Arab- Israeli War in June 1967. Concerned from Islamic fundamentalist plot against the state, the government stepped up efforts to eradictate the movement, including censorship and frequent detention of suspects.

Economy: Although the mining, Tourism, and manufacturing sectors of the economy are important, and the country has become increasingly middle class, over half of Tuinisia's workers are engaged in farming. The agricultural sector, however, accounts for less than 15% of the GDP. A few leading crops are olives, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, sugar beets, dates, and almonds.

Government: Tunisia is an odd, secular dictatorship. Its president is elected by popular vote to five-year terms. But the president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and his ruling party, also choose their opponents, vet their campaign platforms, regulate their campaign posters and messages, and limit the election season to about two weeks. = =



Religion: The Tunisian state assumes today the role of protector of the Islmaic faith in the country. It assumes a similar role for the small minority of christians and jews whose rights of religious belief and practice are guaranteed in Tunisia.

Culture:

Social Problems