Economic and Political Change in Tunisia: From Bourguiba to Ben Ali

Review
Emma Murphy's book is a particularly welcome addition to the small group of up-to-date studies of Tunisia. It provides an accessible introduction to Tunisia's modern poltical economy, focusing on the relationship between economic restructuring and political change since independence. Journal of North African Studies


Book Description
This book examines the processes of economic and political reform in Tunisia, placing the current policies of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali within their historical context. Emma Murphy develops a theoretical understanding of the relationship between economic liberalization and political change in the Arab world, developing the concept of the disarticulation of the corporatist state and concluding that, despite efforts at democratization, an authoritarian political system is a more likely successor in the era of economic transformation.


Card catalog description
This book examines the relationship between economic liberalization and political reform, developing a theoretical approach towards understanding the dysfunction of the corporatist state in the Arab world and the apparent retreat into authoritarian, rather than democratic, political systems. The book examines the case of Tunisia, a country which has undergone profound economic liberalization and simultaneous political change. The roots of those changes are traced back to the failures of the corporatist political system developed by Habib Bourguiba, the father of the post-independence state. The presidency of his successor, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, is analysed in terms of the policies and problems of reform. In conclusion, the book seeks to explain why the Tunisian state seems unable to combine its economic transformation with meaningful progress towards democratization.

About the Author
Emma C. Murphy is Lecturer in Middle Eastern Politics at the Center for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Durham.



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Taking Tunisia since its independence as a case study, Murphy (Middle East politics, U. of Durham) examines the relationship between economic liberalization and political reform and develops a theoretical approach to understanding the dysfunction of the corporatist state in the Arab world and the apparent retreat into authoritarian rather than democratic political systems. She contrasts the political system developed by Habib Bourguiba, the father of the post-independence state, with that of his successor, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)


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