Papers by Oussema Othmeni
European Journal of American Studies, 2024
The United States of America (US) committed nearly $1.4 billion in foreign assistance to Tunisia ... more The United States of America (US) committed nearly $1.4 billion in foreign assistance to Tunisia in support of its democratic transition and transitional justice process between 2011 and 2020. This paper seeks to identify and assess the ideational frameworks guiding the distribution of US assistance, and influencing US foreign policy behavior, throughout the democratization and transitional justice period in Tunisia. It provides considerable evidence showcasing the existence of two prevalent schools of thought in US policymaking circles: The first school believes that the US invested in the notion of Pacted Transitions, which advocates for rapid transitions through political compromise and power-sharing mechanisms without necessarily promoting grassroots democratic reform. This can indirectly explain the US emphasis on security sector assistance and the relative marginalization of transitional justice objectives mainly in terms of institutional vetting, lustration, and reform. The second school puts forward a Democracy Reduction Critique, arguing instead that US policymakers fell for the electoral democracy fallacy and fetishized the role of civil society. This paper critically accounts for both schools and argues that they represent two sides of the same coin.
Lettres et Humanités, 2024
This paper analyzes U.S. foreign assistance to Tunisia (2011-2020) through a mixed-methods approa... more This paper analyzes U.S. foreign assistance to Tunisia (2011-2020) through a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (government data) sources. It argues that the post-2011 shift in bilateral relations reflected a security-oriented preference, mirroring the U.S. Democratic Security Doctrine applied in Colombia. This paper examines the dramatic surge in security aid and contends it prioritized short-term securitization over long-term democratization, hindering transitional justice objectives like vetting, accountability, and institutional reform. This approach, it argues, promoted a myopic, security-focused policymaking strand, undermining Tunisia's democratic prospects.
Book Chapters by Oussema Othmeni
Re-visiting Hybridity in Text and Context , 2022
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the United States of America emerged as a significant a... more In the aftermath of the Second World War, the United States of America emerged as a significant actor in shaping international legal paradigms in general and in establishing a framework for transitional justice mechanisms in particular. The unfolding of American foreign policy involvement in international transitional justice extended from the postwar era to the new millennium; from the Nuremberg trials in 1945 to the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia in 1993, and from the foundation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2002 to the endorsement of the Tunisian Democratic Transition post-2011. However, it was only in 2016, under the Obama administration, that the first documents reflecting the official stance of the American government in regards to transitional justice were published. These documents, otherwise known as the Transitional Justice Policy Paper Series, came after decades of American involvement in various transitional justice procedures in different parts of the world. Indeed, continuous U.S. involvement in transitional justice paradigms resulted in the creation of an increasingly hybrid apparatus governing international affairs in this regard. This paper thus endeavors to identify and highlight such hybridity on two prevalent levels: first, the American approach towards the ICC is characterized by remarkable contradictions through a constant mixture of support and obstruction. Second, the official position of the U.S. government on transitional justice per se is hybrid par excellence as it combines (1) Truth Commissions, (2) Criminal Prosecutions, (3) Reparations, (4) Lustration and Vetting, and (5) Amnesties. The U.S. Transitional Justice Policy Paper Series further articulate that U.S. involvement in post-conflict societies can take place through an amalgamation of (a) foreign assistance, (b) technical advice, and (c) promotion of transitional justice through diplomacy and resolutions. As such, this paper brings forth an appraisal of hybridity in U.S. foreign policy on transitional justice and democratization in post-conflict societies.
Thesis Chapters by Oussema Othmeni
Presidential impeachment is a complex process that links the founding values, the civic virtues, ... more Presidential impeachment is a complex process that links the founding values, the civic virtues, and the fundamental principles of American democracy to the intricacies of political practice and the mechanisms of the American style of governance. It is an essential element that ideally serves to protect democracy and impose accountability. The focus of this dissertation resides in assessing the legitimacy and efficiency of the impeachment measure as well as the impact of partisanship on its well-functioning. This research concluded that the current format of impeachment does not entirely adhere to its founding principles. It also deduced that impeachment is partisan by action and not by design. In the sense that partisan practices do not affect the premise of impeachment, they rather affect the way it is conducted. Ultimately, this dissertation came to the conclusion that the lack of accountability in the impeachment process, as a result of partisan agendas, can potentially promote a system of governance based on kleptocracy rather than democracy.
Lectures by Oussema Othmeni
Over the course of the 20th century, the average American witnessed a 33% decrease in working hou... more Over the course of the 20th century, the average American witnessed a 33% decrease in working hours and acquired a significant income increase. This resulted in increasing consumerism and nearly tripling expenditures on entertainment. Moreover, the time needed to accomplish household chores significantly decreased due to the impact of technological advancement, and accessing means of entertainment at home was facilitated through radio, television, and recorded music. This resulted in the consumption of entertainment on a mass scale and the maintenance of such consumption through continuous growth and innovation.
This lecture seeks to deal with popular American entertainment that is accessible to, and appreciated by, the masses. It examines mainly five forms of entertainment: vaudeville, recorded sound, movies, television, and subscription video on demand (SVOD). It pays special attention to television entertainment and sheds a light on the rise of subscription video as an integral element of the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.
"History has not ended. The world is not one. Civilizations unite and divide humankind. […] What ... more "History has not ended. The world is not one. Civilizations unite and divide humankind. […] What counts for people is not political ideology or economic interest. Faith and family, blood and belief, are what people identify with and what they will fight and die for. And that is why the clash of civilizations is replacing the Cold War as the central phenomenon of global politics." 1
Conference Presentations by Oussema Othmeni
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Papers by Oussema Othmeni
Book Chapters by Oussema Othmeni
Thesis Chapters by Oussema Othmeni
Lectures by Oussema Othmeni
This lecture seeks to deal with popular American entertainment that is accessible to, and appreciated by, the masses. It examines mainly five forms of entertainment: vaudeville, recorded sound, movies, television, and subscription video on demand (SVOD). It pays special attention to television entertainment and sheds a light on the rise of subscription video as an integral element of the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.
Conference Presentations by Oussema Othmeni
This lecture seeks to deal with popular American entertainment that is accessible to, and appreciated by, the masses. It examines mainly five forms of entertainment: vaudeville, recorded sound, movies, television, and subscription video on demand (SVOD). It pays special attention to television entertainment and sheds a light on the rise of subscription video as an integral element of the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.