'Illuminating... comprehensive ... gives the most nuanced understanding of this fractured society'. 'An exceptionally well-crafted and objective history of Tunisia's principal Islamist movement and party, Ennahda . . . This study, so well grounded in recent history, is essential reading for anyone interested in political Islam or the evolution of regimes in the Middle East and North Africa.' 'A largely historical work that is rich in empirical detail. . . . an insightful revision and hind-sight analysis of the development and evolution of Ennahda and its precursor.' 'Anne Wolf provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of the political party in both its activities and ideology, which is essential to understanding the role of political Islam in Tunisia and comprehending its enduring role elsewhere in the Middle East . . . an important and detailed history.' 'Are Rached Ghannouchi and his Ennahda Party in Tunisia true democrats or merely tactical ones? Wolf spent four years and conducted 400 interviews trying to answer that question.' 'One of the most interesting books this summer ... As the first full history of Ennahda, the book ought to be rightfully lauded as a major contribution to literature on Tunisia, Islamist movements in general, and more broadly political Islam in the Arab world.' -- openDemocracy 'Political Islam in Tunisia: The History of Ennahda emerges at a critical time. [...] Wolf has shed important light on the historical evolution of the party, its place within Tunisian history, and its approaches to governance.' -- The New Arab 'Wolf analyses effectively . . . tension between discipline and plural expression.' 'A clear, meticulously researched narrative that explains the remarkable rise, repression and survival of what is the Arab world s most genuinely successful and democratic Islamist movement. It will become the standard reference work.' -- Michael Willis, St Antony s College, University of Oxford 'This outstanding study bridges the gap between the origins of Ennahda and its evolution into a party of government in post-revolutionary Tunisia. Comprehensive and authoritative, Wolf s book is also compelling reading.' -- Eugene Rogan, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Oxford 'Wolf adopts a critical and rigorous approach to the history of Ennahda and shows that Islamists , like any other ideological activists, are prone to change and mature. A sound, timely and objective study of a movement that is becoming a model for any peaceful transition towards democracy in the Arab world.' -- Olivier Roy, Professor, European University Institute, author of 'Jihad and Death: The Global Appeal of Islamic State' 'A thorough, pioneering, reflective history of Ennahda that contextualises the unique evolution of the group since its inception. Essential reading.' -- Lina Khatib, Head of the MENA Programme, Chatham House 'Wolf's meticulous, readable, and well-grounded analysis of Ennahda's origins succeeds in intertwining its story with that of the Tunisian state, and with the role of Islam in Tunisian society.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor of Middle East Politics, SOAS, University of London 'Fascinating . . . this first-rate book provides an objective study of the evolution of the Islamist movement in Tunisia and may serve as a model for approaching the study of political Islam in the Maghreb.' 'An extremely useful contribution to the study of politics and religion in Tunisia . . . a well-researched, comprehensive history . . . those who seek to deepen their understanding of the historical underpinnings of one of the main players in Tunisia today would be well-served by this impressive book.' 'The most authentic history of Ennahda . . . this outstanding history should be read by the leaderships of all global Islamic movements. . . a remarkable study.' 'Political Islam in Tunisia is a very readable yet informative work, and answers many of the questions . . . surrounding a fascinating and relevant political movement. It is likely to become a standard text on the subject, and properly so. Highly recommended.' 'Presents a coherent narrative and includes a wealth of new source material . . . Wolf has done painstaking research.' 'In addition to placing the movement at the heart of Tunisia's democratic transition, Anne Wolf's study of Ennahda has the singular virtue of showing how it is also a reflection of the country s Islamic and Arab identity, stretching back to pre-colonial times.' -- George Joffe, University of Cambridge 'This masterly book fills a serious gap in the literature: a cool-headed and rigorously researched history of Ennahda.' -- Francois Burgat, Senior Research Fellow at CNRS, author of 'Islamism in the Shadow of Al-Qaeda' 'Based on extensive field research, Wolf's book details the historical development and rise of Ennahda. Timely, thorough, and thoughtful, it brilliantly highlights the evolution of its ideological worldview, goals and strategies. It also diligently captures its dilemmas in Tunisia's post-authoritarian era. Wolf's study is an indispensable tool to all those interested in understanding the complex trajectory of the contemporary Tunisian Islamists. It is a commendable contribution to the literature on mainstream Middle eastern Islamist movements.' -- Noureddine Jebnoun, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)