Mohamed Ismail Sabry

State–Society Relations and Sustainable Growth in Tunisia Post-2011

MECAM Papers English | 2024


  • Abstract

    In the post-2011 Revolution years, ideological polarisation and political instability weakened the Tunisian state, freeing much space for business tycoons to largely dominate the political realm. Such “state capture” had a deep impact on the enactment and/or implementation of various policies that would significantly affect inclusive and sustainable growth. After 2011, tycoons benefitted from the lax and discretionary implementation of pol-icies. Other social actors were unable to similarly gain from the open political system to match their power, with the exception of the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT).

    • Tycoons’ market power remained unchallenged because of their control over the banking sector, the high barriers to entry in many industries, and the limited implementation of laws in favour of startups. All this negatively impacted on productivity and the adoption of greener technologies.

    • The UGTT managed to defend the salaries and labour rights of mainly public sector employees, while social protection for private sector ones diminished. Big business did not abide by these laws, while small and medium enterprises lacked the financial resources to comply. The same applies to the implementation of occupational health and safety hazards regulations.

    • The UGTT mostly placed environmental rights after social rights. The state often only consulted environmental civil society organisations (CSOs) for show. Mutual distrust between the UGTT and these CSOs prevented the formation of a strong political coalition between them.

    Context Social actors’ representative organisations and their effective participation in decision-making should be fostered through more collaborative governance institutions. Building mutual trust between different CSOs would also help here. This would prevent favouritism and provide more beneficial input to the state, both serving to promote more inclusive and sustainable growth for Tunisia.


    English version: State-society relations and sustainable growth in Tunisia post-2011

    French version: Relations etat-société et croissance durable en Tunisie après 2011

    Arab version: العلقات بين الدولة والمجتمع والتنمية المستدامة في تونس بعد 2011

    Reihe

    MECAM Papers English

    MECAM Papers French

    MECAM Papers Arab

    Reihennummer

    6

    6

    6

    Serien-ISSN

    2751-6474

    2751-6482

    2751-6490

    Verlag

    Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb

    Erscheinungsort

    Hamburg

    Dr. Mohamed Ismail Sabry

    Dr. Mohamed Ismail Sabry

    Philipps-Universität Marburg


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