Is Tunisia’s democracy on its deathbed? Social capital, economic insecurity and attitudes toward democracy
Résumé
This study explores Tunisia’s evolving democratic landscape, analyzing Arab Barometer Wave VII survey data to understand factors shaping citizens’ support for democracy. Focused on the nation’s emerging democracy amid economic challenges, it employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to emphasise the impact of social capital and economic insecurity. Addressing the nuanced relationship between support for democracy as an ideal and satisfaction with its implementation, the results reveal social capital’s pivotal role in fostering democratic support. Additionally, they underscore economic insecurity as a notable threat to democratic resilience, highlighting an intriguing association: greater support for democracy correlates with lower satisfaction.