Associations and young people during the Tunisian transition: pluralism, socialisation, and democratic legitimation?

Abstract

In Tunisia, during the initial years of the democratic transition, the number of registered associations has doubled. The few studies available point out that a significant proportion of the new associations' membership is made up of young people. This specific participation of young people in the network of associations that emerged from 2011 onwards is not very well-known either. In this article, we wish to contribute primarily to providing information that facilitates understanding of the changes that have taken place in the associative sector and in the participation of young people in it. Furthermore, we believe that Tunisia is, in a way, a 'laboratory' in which civic participation in contexts of democratic consolidation can be explored. Specifically, using data obtained from two surveys conducted in 2015 and 2016 we propose, first, to examine the profile of the young people active in the associations and the areas in which their associations intervene, in order to see to what extent the argument regarding the plural representation of the heterogeneity of young people can be verified through the network of associations. Second, we aim to evaluate the contribution of socialisation through associations to the inculcation of a democratic culture that would be verified in the electoral behaviour of young association activists. Third, we aim to open a debate about the possible 'macro' or systemic effects of these data; that is to say, about the representation of pluralism and diversity in Tunisian society, as well as the legitimation of democratic institutions.

Does gender matter within the Tunisian civil society organizations following the "Arab Spring"? The division of labor and responsibilities among young activists

“…We also believe that the fact the survey was aimed at young people aged 18-35, does not detract from the goal of discovering the existence of a gendered distribution of CSOs responsibilities and tasks. On the contrary, this type of sampling has the advantage of reducing the heterogeneity of the pool of interviewees (Desrues & Velasco, 2021), and of focusing attention on gender dimension rather than the age as the explanatory variable accounting for the differentiated behavior, opinions and responsibilities between men and women in associative life.…”

The Civil Society, the Commune, the Parliament: strategies for political promotion of young rural leaders in the province of El Hajeb, Morocco

“…The debates surrounding the political participation of young people have taken on a significant dimension since the 2011 events referred to as the "Arab Spring". Many international organisations have taken actions to encourage the political participation of young people (Desrues and Velasco, 2019). In 2013, for example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a report entitled "Enhancing Youth Political Participation throughout the Electoral Cycle".…”