Bringing back the concept of colonial pacification in the study of preventing violent extremism (PVE) practices: the case of Tunisia

Abstract

AbstractThis article delves into the historical foundations of countering and preventing violent extremism (CVE-PVE) using contemporary Tunisia as a case study. While PVE emerged in the 2010s, representing a shift from stringent counterterrorism to a more holistic preventative strategy, it recalls colonial notions and practices. This work seeks to contextualize PVE, emphasizing continuities and changes across colonial, post-colonial, and neocolonial control and prevention practices. Using a genealogical and discursive methodology, the research examines contemporary policy documents, political discourse, colonial archives and transitional justice records. Central to this exploration is the French colonial notion of pacification, which refers to the action to restore order and prevent disorder in regions resisting colonial dominance. The study sheds light on the colonial origins of present-day preventative measures such as administrative control, referral, persuasion and peacebuilding. The article posits that the concept of pacification is pivotal to understanding modern PVE practices. A sincere thanks to Alice Martini and Amna Kaleem, along with fellow participants of the EWIS workshop ‘Constituting modern subjects by disciplining the extremes: international histories, global hierarchies, and intersectionality in PVE’ convened in Thessaloniki during the summer of 2022. Their insightful comments have been invaluable. Additionally, I wish to express my deep gratitude to the esteemed reviewers, whose constructive feedback significantly augmented the quality of this research paper. The author report there are no competing interests to declare.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 All translations from French and Arabic contained in the article are by the author.2 For a comprehensive discussion on the origins and characteristics of CVE/PVE, see: Romaniuk (Citation2015); Kundnani and Hayes (Citation2018); Martini, Ford, and Jackson (Citation2020); Stephens, Sieckelinck, and Boutellier (Citation2021), van de Weert and Eijkman (Citation2019).3 For an in-depth exploration of Gallula’s life and contributions, one is directed to the tome: Cohen (Citation2012).4 Since 25 July 2021, President Kais Saied, who won 2019 election, has begun a formal process of dismantling the democratic structure built after 2011. He dissolved the parliament and organised a referendum on a new constitution that critically expands the powers of President of the Republic at the expense of a façade parliament, and a weakened judicial power under his oversight. A new process of repression of dissent began with arrests of dissident politicians and journalists and censure on freedom of speech and press.5 The commission’s endeavours have been characterised by persistent controversies and disputes from their inception, illustrating the pronounced politicisation of transitional justice in Tunisia (Robins and Gready Citation2023). The TDC stands accused of disproportionately supporting Islamist-conservative victims. Moreover, it has been scrutinised by the Court of Auditors for alleged financial mismanagement. The Instance’s president, Sihem Ben Sedrine, has faced recurrent criticisms and accusations. Despite these allegations, a diverse range of stakeholders acknowledges its historical and memorial relevance, deeming it ‘a monumental contribution, largely overlooked in Tunisia’ (Bréssillon Citation2019).6 Even if the boundaries of classical Salafi division between quietist politicos and jihadis have been blurred in the context post Arab uprisings, I consider jihadi Salafist those groups that see minor jihad as the only effective means for establishing the Islamic State (Wiktorowicz Citation2004).Additional informationFundingThis research was undertaken within the framework of the PhD program in Political Sciences funded by the University of Pisa.Notes on contributorsGuendalina SimonciniGuendalina Simoncini is a post-doctoral researcher at Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence, Italy. She obtained her PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Pisa in 2022. Prior to her PhD, she earned a BA in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Granada and an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Mediterranean Studies. Her research predominantly focuses on political violence, counterterrorism, human rights, and gender studies in Maghrebi countries. She has also provided her expertise as a research consultant related to PVE/CVE for NGOs and international organisations in Tunisia and Europe. Email: guendalina.simoncini@sns.it, guen.simoncini@gmail.com