How did Tunisians react to Ennahdha's 2016 reforms? Evidence from a survey experiment. Issue 1 (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ash, Konstantin
• Is Part Of: Mediterranean politics. Volume 28:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: Tunisia -- party institutionalization -- North Africa -- Islamist parties; Mediterranean Region -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.91822
• DOI: 10.1080/13629395.2021.1894541
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1362-9395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study looks at public reaction to 2016 reforms made by Ennahdha, Tunisia's most prominent Islamist party, to formally separate from its religious wing. Interviews with Ennahdha's electoral strategists suggest they expected resurgent support from both secular Tunisians and beneficiaries from the party's social programmes. Nevertheless, Ennahdha's vote share declined in 2019's parliamentary elections. A survey experiment conducted in 2017 randomly primed Tunisians with news of Ennahdha's reforms. While the reforms themselves were viewed favourably by secular and educated Tunisians, the party did not gain in aggregate favourability and lost support among less-educated and non-secular Tunisians.