Discovering the Consular Quarter of Ottoman Tunis
Through an original approach, combining the perspectives of an architect, urban planner, and historian, Adnen El Ghali invites readers to explore the functioning of the consular triad between consuls, establishments, and territories of inscription, both physical and symbolic, in a context marked by diplomatic power struggles.
Conference at the Institute of Research on Contemporary Maghreb
The Institute of Research on Contemporary Maghreb (IRMC) will host a conference on Thursday, September 11th at 5:30 pm, dedicated to Adnen El Ghali's latest book, "When Diplomacy Shapes the City: The Consular Quarter of Ottoman Tunis (17th-19th centuries)". The event will take place at the IRMC headquarters in Mutuelleville, Tunis, and will be moderated by Leïla Temime Blili, emeritus professor of modern and contemporary history at the University of La Manouba, alongside the author.
Book Overview
Published in 2025 by the University of Brussels Press, this 392-page book explores the links between diplomacy, urban planning, and power in the Ottoman regency of Tunis. Structured into three chapters - the genesis of consulates in the city, the spaces of conquest of privileges, and the spaces of consular representation - the book offers an immersive journey into the history of the consular quarter and the complex relationships between European powers and the beylical authority.
A Unique Approach
Through a unique approach, combining the perspectives of an architect, urban planner, and historian, Adnen El Ghali invites readers to discover the functioning of the consular triad between consuls, establishments, and territories of inscription, both physical and symbolic, in a context marked by diplomatic power struggles. The study covers a period from the construction of the first consular house in 1660 to the establishment of the French protectorate in 1881.
Unveiling the Symbolic Stakes
The author sheds light on the European consular houses located in the medina and its surroundings, revealing how they shaped the urban space as well as social uses. He deciphers the symbolic stakes at play around these spaces: the conquest of privileges, the representation of state prestige, and the dynamics of cultural hybridization specific to Tunis during this period.
About the Author
Adnen El Ghali is an architect and urban planner by training, and also holds a doctorate in history from the Free University of Brussels (ULB). A member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the Association for the Preservation of the Medina (ASM) of Tunis, he has conducted numerous research projects on the material and intangible heritage of the city. He is also the author of "The Consuls' Route: The Territories of Diplomacy in Tunis" (2015), "Beware of Mattei! Diplomacy, Energy, and Sovereignty in Tunisia (1956-1962)" (2016), published by Les points sur les i (France), and "The Fondouks of Tunis - Genesis and Urban Logic of the Caravanserais of North Africa" (2010).
