On Tuesday, there was a clash between Tunisian police and the staff of the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP). The state news agency had been assigned a new chief executive, who the staff believes is being appointed as an attempt to re-restrict the news company. Before the revolution, TAP was a media outlet controlled by the state, full of state propaganda. After, the company was allowed much more editorial freedom with what they’re posting; this is a freedom that the staff at TAP values, and fears is being taken away. The staff attempted to block the new chief executive from entering the building on Tuesday, however Tunisian police broke through the crowd and allowed the chief to enter. The Prime Minister denies all claims accusing this appointment as a political move, stating that it’s simply business-oriented, as the new chief of staff has extensive news experience.
Freedom of speech and press is a right that many people take for granted, however in some countries media outlets are not allowed the room to speak what they like, and are forced by the state to publish certain things. This is how it was in Tunisia, until the revolution that brought democracy to the country. It’s understandable that the staff at TAP is apprehensive of a newly appointmented chief of staff, especially one that holds political views that counter media freedom. To have the freedom to print what they want rather than state propaganda be given to them then to so quickly have it stripped of them must be a terrifying thought. It’s logical that they are against this change.
One of the ideas of liberalism is the support of the spread of democracy. Liberalist ideology states that with more democratic states the world is more likely to be at peace and stable. Freedom of speech and press are two ideas largely supported by democracy and a free state. By creating more freedoms for citizens, and making the world more democratic, the international community is likely to become more stable and less likely to experience conflict.