In his book entitled Quand la diplomatie fait la ville, Adnen El Ghali reconstructs the heart of the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century diplomatic and consular life of Tunis through the history of consular buildings, using a historical approach that combines architectural and consular histories. At the end of the eighteenth century, the consular situation in Tunis changed rapidly. Old powers like Ragusa and the Republic of Venice were toppled, and instead upcoming powers like the United States took up a consular presence in Tunis. In his work, El Ghali argues that the layout, space, and location of the consular buildings tell us more about both consular life in Tunis, and the relationships between different powers and the Ḥusaynid government. With his words, recorded on 8 December 2025, Adnen accompanies Giorgio through the streets of the bustling capital of the Ḥusaynids, a diplomatic and commercial hub of the Ottoman Empire, shaped by centuries of contact and interaction with populations from North Africa and Europe.

There is a clear link between architecture, urbanism, and the nature of the international
relations between these different actors.

Episode 81 – Through the Streets of Tunis

AUTHOR PHOTO: AXEL DERRIKS

Podcasts are published by TLP for the purpose of encouraging informed debate on the legacies of the events surrounding the Lausanne Conference. The views expressed by participants do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TLP, its partners, convenors or members.