TUNIS, Tunisia — Like many young people roused by Tunisia's revolution, international law student Soukaina Joumni dove into politics. After two decades of dictatorship, dozens of political parties emerged. Joumni joined the center-left Congress Party for the Republic, running as a candidate for the National Constituent Assembly in the October 2011 elections.

"In this period, many of the youth wanted to participate," the 31-year-old woman says. "They wanted to be a part of political life; they wanted to live this experience."

But two years later, many like Joumni have become disillusioned by a political landscape deeply polarized along ideological lines. They claim the parties are ineffective and politicians are more bent on clinging to power than adopting policies to move the country forward. This pack is searching for other outlets to express their zeal for civic engagement, but choosing to do so aloof of political affiliations. As independents, they insist their approach may be the country's best bet in building true dialogue during the transition period.

Despite losing the election, Joumni remained active in her party, known as CPR, serving in its media office and national council after it built a coalition government with Ennahda, the ruling Islamist party, and Ettakatol, another secular party. The CPR's Moncef Marzouki became the country's president.