Western Media Discovers 'Hunger Strike,' Ignores Its Own Role in 'Hunger Politics'
Al-Monitor dutifully reports on Tunisian opposition leader Jawhar Ben Mbarek's hunger strike and the solidarity shown by figures like Rached Ghannouchi against their detention since February 2023. It’s a story of brave dissidents under pressure from Kais Saied’s government, which has consolidated power since 2021. What's routinely omitted is the historical context: the 'democracy' that flourished
briefly post-2011 Arab Spring, often lauded by Western capitals, was frequently characterized by fragile coalitions, economic instability, and security concerns. The same Western media now lamenting the erosion of democracy in Tunisia often glosses over how their governments' past interventions and conditional aid packages inadvertently set the stage for such power vacuums or strongman takeovers,
proving once again that 'human rights' are selectively applied depending on geopolitical convenience, not genuine concern.