A Study On Modern Tunisia’s Political Reforms

Modern Tunisia was born from a provincial state of Ottoman Empire, and inherited the heritage of French Colonization. Under the Federal state governance, Tunisia ushered in modernization at the first half of19th century, and sustained it to nowadays. During modernization, Tunisia formed a reformist tradition. Ahmed Bey’s martial reform was followed by Sadik Bey’s political reform, which was under the pressure of western powers. The Constitutionalism Reform in1861had pivotal influence in Tunisia’s history. Since then, Constitutionalism rooted in Tunisia’s reforms, which embodied in Khair Dine’s reform, Habib Bourguiba’s reform and Ben Ali’s reform. Besides, Secularism and Westernization got its place in the reformist tradition too.Since Tunisia’s independence, it formed an Authoritarian system step by step. Under this system, the president of the Republic has great privilege, and has nearly unrestrained power. And the ruling party controls all aspects of social, economical and political life. By contrast, the coerce power is more important than consent power. However, Tunisian Authoritarian regime does not totally rely on the coerce institutions. In fact, Habib Bourguiba possesses Charismatic power because of his National Father’s role. Although Ben Ali does not have this power, he got support from his inherited task in National Building. At a great extent, Tunisian Authoritarian regime’s legitimacy increased by its Accountability. In essence, modern Tunisia’s political reforms are adjustment and fulfillment of the system. The outcome of these reforms is the sustainment of this regime, but the stagnant of the system. In the end, the democratic transformation toppled Tunisian Authoritarian politics.The thesis contains four parts. In the first part, I would introduce political reforms in Tunisia in the19th century, and analyze its reformist tradition. In the second part, I would discuss the formation of Tunisian Authoritarian system and the interaction with the social and economical areas. Boosting the economy and upgrading people’life standard is always the core policy of the regime. In other words, Tunisian Authoritarian regime always pursues accountability for the legitimacy. In the third part, I would discuss the main contents in modern Tunisia’s political reforms. They are include:(1) the administrative reform under the Presidential Monarchy;(2) the ruling party and the party system reform;(3) the martial and security reform;(4) the evolvement of state-religion relations;(5) the evolvement of civil society and its role in political stability;(6) Tunisia’s foreign policy and its reaction toward the pressure of democratic promotion. During the reforms, Tunisia formed an effective bureaucracy, a one-party-dominated party system, a politically weak but professionalized army, an atmosphere of moderate Islamism, and a merely developed civil society. Apart from this, Tunisia got a big success in foreign policy, which guaranteed a favorable environment for political and economical development. However, modern Tunisia’s political reform is obviously inadequate. Tunisia has not solved the life tenure of presidency and the strongman politics. Cronyism is everywhere. Multiparty politics is still far away. Tunisia’s security department expanded swiftly. The civil society is underdeveloped. The political Islam is not properly handled. The last part of this thesis is conclusion. After the deduction, I believe Tunisia has gone through a unique process of political reform due to its reformist tradition. And Tunisia will complete its democratic transformation in a specific way.