The Pursuit of the Lost Time of Deceits and Illusions: The Case of Tunisia
Introduction
One can examine the many complex changes of day to day life that have taken place in the Mediterranean context which are presented as a kaleidoscope of deceptions. In any case the image of North Africa in Europe and that of Europe in North Africa bring population flows that meet in discordant manner. So the positions taken up in cultural and social points of view remain distant. Around Europe they became a crown of the "ancient" as well as of the "different"; this creates a subtle anguish which can be felt when faced with deep but not always seen symptoms, almost denied to a real knowledge.
With a mixture of curiosity and many doubts, we have summoned the past and the present, and collected documents. Hard work had to be done to restore an image of that kaleidoscope, and to talk about an excursion through the history of the many peoples who landed in Tunisia, an excursion voluntarily full of impulses on a cognitive basis with many empty spaces. Our aim is to attempt not to give answers that may be biased, but to focus on re-reading some aspects that encourage the reader to imagine some of the answers to some of the questions (What is the geographical space of Tunisia? Tunisia is a Western or an Eastern country? Why historically was Tunisia only a penetration land? Why is political organization constantly based on the image of the leader invested with full powers? Why was Tunisia, in the past considered to be the granary of Rome, is actually obliged to fight desertification? Why has Tunisia been denied its memory, as though it were struck by Alzheimer disease? Why has the elite administrated the country in thirds? Where is Tunisia going?…)
Obviously these are questions that do not only regard Tunisia, but are questions that seem to be not asked in Tunisia. Meanwhile their answers could help us apply a line of more believable development global politics that go much further than the simple "mise à niveau" which the European Union imagined to accompany the Association Agreements.
On the other hand, we endeavored to re-read Tunisia history, one of the more ancient of the world, not by photograms, nor according to an unique interpretative model -- the history as a space-movement according to Braudel for example -- but researching its trajectory which trace the path of history, our personal one.
Despite its limits, this historical work should be considered to be at the same time exercises of knowledge, criticism and self-criticism.
Criticism most of all, which means resistance to overhanging nothing, dreaming an advanced Tunisia and an advanced North Africa, most of all in terms of political institutions and of cultural and social works. It is useful to note what Benedetto Croce said in his History of Europe in the XIXth Century. "At the end of imperial incidents and 'despotic and genial' ideologies for centuries -- sometimes for a generation -- in every people hope brightens again to make them able of redefining their cultural and territorial integrity, and of reconstructing their own future of freedom. This hope feeds on delusions and failures which come to light".
This work serves to be grateful to Tunisia and its kind and generous people. They have donated themselves and the fruits of their labor and land to others throughout many centuries.
The work is composed of five volumes corresponding
to as many historical moments of the country life.
Volume 1. Carthage Missionary
of Civilization
- Volume 2. Roman and Christian Time
- Volume 3. The Arab Conquest
- Volume 4. The Long Night
- Volume 5. The Republic
Carthage Missionary of Civilization,
the first volume, at present
under printing preparation, is divided into five parts:
PART ONE: The Environment
PART TWO: The Phoenicians
PART THREE: Carthage missionary of civilization
PART FOUR: Carthaginian expansion
PART QUINTA: The wars against Carthage
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