Modernism in Tunisia; from formation to the emergence of a critical view to modernity (1881-1937)

Tunisia became acquainted with modernism in the early nineteenth century, due to relation with Egypt and Ottoman, and interaction with France, which were of the main origins of modernism. Modernism in Tunisia began with the renovations of Ahmed Bey (d. 1837-1855). This modernism continued until the beginning of French colonization (1881) and the emergence of critical views to modernity. Tunisiachr('39')s early modernists, like those of other Islamic countries, were of dependent people to the government, and their efforts focused more on material and tangible aspects of modernity. They knew the way to any growth and development in imitation and adaptation from the West by looking at the appearance of modernity. The main issue of the study is what were the backgrounds and factors influencing and spread of modernity in Tunisia? This study by considering factors and backgrounds of the arrival of modernity to Tunisia, explains the nature and characteristics of the discourse of the first stage of modernism in Tunisia. Findings of the study show the first stage of the modernism discourse in Tunisia mostly had modernized nature. The main strategy of the modernists to save Tunisia from backwardness was to make full use of the technical and industrial achievements of modernism. They ignored the epistemological foundations and requirements of modernity. Hence, they lacked a fundamental understanding of the basic definitions and concepts of modernity about man, world, and society.