Oral history interview with Omezzine Khelifa, 2021
Abstract
Omezzine Khelifa reflects on her experiences during the years of the Obama presidency, and discusses her involvement in the Tunisian revolution and service in the transition governments formed following national elections in October 2011. Khelifa recounts her upbringing under the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia, describes her education and early professional life in France, and narrates her politicizatio n during the early events of the Tunisian Revolution in 2010 and 2011. She speaks widely about her decision to participate openly in the revolution and return to Tunisia, and considers major themes relevant to the post-revolutionary political development of the country, including the importance of civil society organizations; the founding and growth of new political parties; the endurance of the civil service and public institutions following the departure of Ben Ali; the need for economic growth and international financial support; relations between the transition government, foreign governments, and international financial institutions; and national security concerns. Khelifa also provides details about her service as an adviser to the ministers of tourism and of finance; her decision to leave government service; and the founding and activities of Mobdiun-Creative Youth, an organization she founded to address the sociological drivers of radicalization. Also discussed are Khelifa's memories of Obama's election in 2008 and her reaction to the president's public remarks about the Tunisian Revolution; the narrative of the Arab Spring; gender in Tunisian society and the significance of gender in the revolution; and the reluctance of foreign countries and international institutions to support uncertain, transitional governments
Presidents--United States; Political participation--History--21st century.--Tunisia; Political culture--Tunisia; Political parties--History.--Tunisia; Democratization--21st century.--Tunisia; Arab Spring, 2010-; Economic development--Political aspects--Tunisia; Tunisia Politics and government 1987-2011; Tunisia Politics and government 2011-; Tunisia social conditions; Tunisia History; Khelifa, Omezzine; Obama, Barack; Bin ʻAlī, Zayn al-ʻĀbidīn; Columbia University Alumni and alumnae
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
46 pages
Note (Biographical)
Omezzine Khelifa is a Tunisian government official and civic leader. In the transition governments that followed the Tunisian national elections in October 2011, she served as an adviser to the ministers of tourism and finance. After leaving governmen t, Khelifa founded Mobdiun-Creative Youth, a social impact organization that works with youth to address the sociological drivers of radicalization and help build peaceful democracy in Tunisia. In 2018, Khelifa was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars at Columbia University
Note
Interviewed by Peter Bearman on September 15, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Omezzine Khelifa, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023