Guardians of Religion: Islam, Nation, and Democratization in Post-Revolution Tunisia

Abstract

Why do some democratic transitions succeed while others fail? While most explanations focus on macro-level and structural factors, such as economic growth or institutional reform, I suggest two related factors that should be systematically examined. First, if and how democratizing states and societies address questions of national identity and belonging (national reimagining), particularly with respect to collective memory, legal & institutional reform, and pluralization. Second, to what degree is there a broad societal consensus concerning these issues of national identity (national consolidation). Through the case of Tunisia (2010-14) I examine how Islam in particular is constitutive of Tunisian national identity and how the post-revolutionary process of democratization has affected and been affected by this relationship. In examining Islam and nationalism in the post-revolutionary period, I describe a period in which debates over national identity initially threatened to derail Tunisia’s democratization project with respect to addressing past grievances, reforming laws and the constitution, delaying elections, and nearly unseating Tunisia’s first democratically elected government. I argue that it was only the presence of a violent, existential threat to the state that allowed for a national reimagining and consolidation necessary to continuing the democratization process.