The organized struggle over institutions in Tunisia

The role of organized capital and labor unions

Authors

  • Sam van Noort University of Amsterdam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.26.10

Keywords:

political economy, institutions, Arab Spring, Tunisia, Democratization, capital-labor relations

Abstract

This article examines the prospects for Tunisia with regard to the formation of a more inclusive economic- and political system. Special focus is on employees’ associations and labor unions as two decisive social groups that have historically played an important role in Tunisian politics. Eva Bellin’s (2000) model of organized capital and –labor’s (material) interests is used, as well as a broader historical analysis of the Tunisian institutional context before and after Ben Ali stepped down from power. It is concluded that prospects for further inclusive institutionalization looks reasonably positive, although much is uncertain. While the business community has suffered substantial costs as a result of the fall of the Ben Ali-regime, it is much less collectively organized and is unlikely to openly act against further inclusiveness. Labor unions, in contrast, have gained from the move to some more inclusive institutions by securing an important role in Tunisian politics.

Author Biography

Sam van Noort, University of Amsterdam

Sam van Noort (1991) is a graduate student in the Research Master Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). He has completed his bachelor in Political Science at the UvA ‘cum laude’ (‘with distinction’) and with an interdisciplinary honors program (30 ecs). He has been working on two different international research projects as a research-assistant and is currently a teaching-assistant at the UvA. Van Noort’s academic interests cover a wide range of subjects and disciplines, which include: international relations, macro-economics, international political economy, comparative political economy, political and economic development, research methodology, political theory, philosophy and political behavior.

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Published

2015-03-31

How to Cite

van Noort, Sam. 2015. “The Organized Struggle over Institutions in Tunisia: The Role of Organized Capital and Labor Unions”. Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science 26 (March). Online:146-63. https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.26.10.

Issue

Section

Research articles