Analyses the democratic transition in Tunisia by exploring its international dimension
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Challenges the idea that democracy promotion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) always produces meaningless and counterproductive results
Investigates the strengths, flaws and unintended consequences of internationally assisted democracy promotion in Tunisian democratization
Explains how geopolitical factors are important for understanding processes of democratisation and authoritarianism that Tunisia has experienced in recent decades
This book focuses on international dynamics and global factors that surrounded Ben Ali’s regime breakdown and the subsequent democratisation process in Tunisia. Relying on extensive fieldwork, the research explores the interplay between international and national actors and presents two main arguments. First, it shows that although Western states officially remained allies of Ben Ali until the end of his regime (1987-2011), democracy promoters and international actors in part supported debate and interactions among Tunisian individuals and groups with critical views of his rule and policies. These activities fostered the emergence of alternative discourses and potential coalitions, eventually weakening the internal and external legitimacy of the Ben Ali regime. Second, the book argues that between 2011 and 2021 international assistance helped Tunisian transitional elites to build a procedural democracy. Yet foreign assistance and democracy promotion devoted less effort to boost more substantive aspects of democratisation, indirectly contributing to the rise of popular disillusion with democratic governance.
Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Introduction
1. The International Dimension of Democratisation 2. A Historical Analysis of Tunisia’s International Context 3. The United States and Tunisian Democratisation 4. Germany and Tunisian Democratisation 5. Achievements, Flaws and Unintended Consequences of Democracy Promotion 6. The European Union and Tunisian Democratisation 7. The Policy of International Financial Institutions in Tunisia
Pietro Marzo is Assistant Professor at TELUQ University, Quebec Canada. He is an affiliated member of the Interdisciplinary Centre of Research for Africa and Middle East at Laval University. He has published several articles and book chapters on Tunisian politics, on the international relations of the MENA region and on research methodology.
