International dynamics of Tunisian decmocratisation Pietro Marzo

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marzo, Pietro, author.

Series:

Edinburgh studies on the Maghreb

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bin ʻAlī, Zayn al-ʻĀbidīn.

Tunisia--Politics and government--1987-2011.

Democracy--Tunisia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Other Title:

International dynamics of Tunisian decmocratization

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press [2026]

Summary:

"Analyses the democratic transition in Tunisia by exploring its international dimension Challenges the idea that democracy promotion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) always produces meaningless and counterproductive resultsInvestigates the strengths, flaws and unintended consequences of internationally assisted democracy promotion in Tunisian democratizationExplains 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"-- De Gruyter Brill

Contents:

The international dimension of democratisation

A historical analysis of Tunisia’s international context

The United States and Tunisian democratisation

Germany and Tunisian democratisation

Achievements, flaws and unintended consequences of democracy promotion

The European Union and Tunisian democratisation

The policy of international financial institutions in Tunisia

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (De Gruyter Brill, viewed January 23, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Marzo, Pietro International dynamics of Tunisian decmocratisation

ISBN:

9781399511636

1399511637

9781399511643

1399511645

OCLC:

1558604126

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license