When Authoritarianism Failed in Tunisia: an Investigation of the Ben Ali Regime and the Factors That Led to Its Downfall
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WHEN AUTHORITARIANISM FAILED IN TUNISIA: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BEN ALI REGIME AND THE FACTORS THAT LED TO ITS DOWNFALL A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Arab Studies By Tyler Pentland Logan, B.A. Washington, DC April 23, 2012 Copyright 2012 by Tyler Pentland Logan All Rights Reserved ii I would like to convey my appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Nourredine Jebnoun for the guidance he provided me throughout the duration of this research project. He was an indispensable source of knowledge and an invaluable contributor to the content, scope and refinement of this thesis. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Samer Shehata for the feedback he provided as my reader. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Rochelle Davis for the initial guidance she provided to conceptualizing my research project, formulating the research methodology, and preparing my IRB proposal. Her tutelage enhanced the quality of my original research and the subsequent data that I collected during my trip to Tunisia. My utmost appreciation goes to all who agreed to share their candid testimonies during the interviews I conducted. Thank you for welcoming me to your country, inviting me to record your personal experiences, and enabling my research; without you, this project would not have been possible. I would like to thank my family and friends for their unrelenting encouragement and inspiration. Every day you broaden my views, expand my understanding, and always challenge me to succeed. Finally, the research and writing of this thesis is dedicated to the people of Tunisia, and to those who oppose tyranny for the sake of freedom. May your courage prevail, TYLER PENTLAND LOGAN iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 6 Organization of the Thesis .............................................................................................. 11 Chapter I: L’Espoir et Désespoir: Ben Ali’s Transition to Power ................................. 12 Espoir – Mission of Modernity ....................................................................................... 14 Désespoir – Dissatisfaction Outweighs Achievement ..................................................... 17 Sliding into Dictatorship .................................................................................................. 24 “Tagheer al Mubarak” (The Blessed Change) ................................................................. 27 C’est Qui Ben Ali? ........................................................................................................... 28 A New Savior? ................................................................................................................ 30 Rewriting History to Earn Legitimacy ............................................................................. 33 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 35 Chapter 2: Keeping People out of Politics: Ben Ali’s Authoritarian Model ................... 37 The “National Pact” ......................................................................................................... 38 Authoritarian Elections .................................................................................................... 44 Rassemblement Constitutionnel Démocratique (RCD) ................................................... 50 Politicians – “A Necessary Evil” ..................................................................................... 51 The Political “Opposition” ............................................................................................... 52 Ben Ali’s “Blank Check” ................................................................................................. 59 Sacrificing Contestation for Security ............................................................................... 60 The Role of the Syndicate ................................................................................................ 65 iv The Civil Society Mafia ................................................................................................... 66 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 3: The “Rashwa” (Bribe) State ........................................................................... 71 Economic Regionalization ............................................................................................... 78 Positive Economic Growth – Statistics Supercede Sociology ......................................... 80 Caisse 26/26 and the Image of Development .................................................................. 82 Understanding the Economy – “Liberal with a Savage Dimension” ............................... 84 Ben Ali’s Mafia – The Key to His Undoing .................................................................... 90 The Rashwa State ............................................................................................................. 96 Managing Unemployment ............................................................................................... 98 The Educational Agenda – Quantity Over Quality ........................................................ 100 Tunisian Political-Economy ........................................................................................... 104 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 109 Chapter 4: The Security State ........................................................................................ 113 MOI or RCD? .................................................................................................................117 The Use of RCD Informants .......................................................................................... 121 The Placebo Effect ......................................................................................................... 125 The Use of Propaganda .................................................................................................. 128 Clandestine Communication .......................................................................................... 129 Disregard for Human Rights .......................................................................................... 134 Chapter 5: Dégage: The Discourse of Desperation ........................................................ 137 Longevity by Constitutional Reform ............................................................................. 138 2008 Uprisings ............................................................................................................... 140 v Madame la Présidente .................................................................................................... 142 Waning Support Among Key International Actors ....................................................... 144 WikiLeaks Confirms Corruption ................................................................................... 146 Muhammad Bouazizi: “His Case was Our Case” .......................................................... 148 Bi Kuli Hazim – Unrest Returns to the Interior ............................................................. 149 New Communication Reveals Shared Grievances ........................................................ 151 “Merci Facebook:” The Role of Social Media .............................................................. 154 La’a Khowfa B’ada al-Youm ........................................................................................ 156 Ben Ali’s “Spanish Castle” ............................................................................................ 157 RCD OUT ...................................................................................................................... 160 Economic Syndicates – Political Affairs no Longer a Priority .......................................162 Expecting the Unexpected ............................................................................................. 165 Chapter 6: The Aftermath .............................................................................................. 167 Digesting Revolution – Popular Revolt or Coup? ......................................................... 177 Ben Ali’s Legacies ......................................................................................................... 180 Deconstructing Ben Ali’s “Political Schizophrenia” ..................................................... 187 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 188 Appendix A: Formal Interview Questions for all Research Subjects ............................. 190 Appendix B: IRB Certification ...................................................................................... 192 Appendix C: Photos ....................................................................................................... 193 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................