State–Society Relations and Sustainable Growth in Tunisia Post-2011
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.
Ghana and Tunisia have often been framed as beacons of democracy in their respective regions. However, as Ghana’s democracy matured over decades, Tunisia’s experiment ultimately collapsed. This paper examines diverse factors shaping their paths, offering lessons on the risks of democratic backsliding.
