Azzedine Alaia: Social Context

Tunisia = North African Arab country

Tunisia = Tumultuous political environment

1981 = Tunisia - colonised by the french

Invasion was resisted with aggression and violence - Tunisians wanted to be independent

March 20th 1956 = Tunisian Independence

Occupation = a little over 7 years

French Occupation

French-educated Tunisian Elite = assimilated well

French Culture = link to western ideals appealed to the desire for modernization

Movement

“Franco-Tunisian cooperation to achieve a modern liberal state”

made up = Turkish aristocracy - diminished in 1912

1956 = Establishment of Independence

Habib Bourguiba = elected president - big part of gaining independence for Tunisia

Considered = the “Supreme Warrior of the Nation”

Therefore = culture = didn't criticise the president

Has very western (progressive) Ideals = didn't sit well with Arab world

progressive laws for women's rights

revolutionary rational contradicted Sharia the Islamic code inspired by the Koran

Downfall

inability to secure a stable economy

Liberal ideals

1975

Bourguiba appointed leader for life by the nationalist assembly

1987

Ben Ali would gain power through a coup

declaration of Bourguiba being mentally unfit

Began dictatorship

Ended in 2011

beginning of Arab Spring

initiated in Tunisia

Algeria borders Tunisia

Alaia immigration to Paris the outbreak of the Algerian war would affect Alaia’s early career and acceptance into the industry