Social Movement Organizations (SMOs) and their Role in Promoting Democracy in Tunisia

Five years following the uprisings that began in Tunisia with the self-immolation of a young fruit vendor, Tunisian SMOs show still high activism but are also relying on their usual relations with others. While a number of authors underline the role of movements in the initial uprisings (Paciello 2011; Penner Angrist 2013), the role of today’s movements is often not discussed. Therefore, the paper bases on interviews with SMO and civil society leaders that have been collected in September 2015. A first analysis of the semi-structured interviews shows that the SMOs that already existed before the revolution (namely the UGTT (Union Générale Tunisienne de Travail), the LTDH (Ligue Tunisienne pour la défense des droits de l’homme), the ATFD (Association Tunisienne de Femmes Démocrates) as well as the ONAT (Ordre National des Avocats)) still rely on their ‘old’ networks and are also cooperating when mobilizing the Tunisian people. Taking a framing perspective, those actors also focus on their national engagement for a democratic Tunisia. Regarding the type of democracy, even a more participatory approach is highlighted, especially in a local context, but the existing representative system is accepted. Especially UGTT leaders, but also ATFD or ONAT leaders emphasise the historic role of their respective movements and their activities even under the Ben Ali regime. This is further in line with researchers that argue for a continued engagement of social movements that started years before the 2011 events (Hibou 201; Bayat 2013). Finally, interviews with leaders revealed that they see the danger of a returning police state, especially following the police violence in August/September 2015 during demonstrations in Tunis, where violence was mainly absent for years. Nevertheless, government reactions like interdictions of demonstrations in the name of fighting terrorism are more seen as a “motivation” for militants to protest even more.