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Labor Unions and Democratic Unrest in North Africa

Protest and Resistance in Tunisia and Morocco

Ashley Anderson (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

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Hardback

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English
Cambridge University Press
20 November 2025
The political upheavals witnessed in North Africa during the 2011 Arab uprisings brought renewed attention to the region. This book focuses on the inconspicuous yet critical role of labor unions in shaping protest success (and failure) during this period. Drawing on a comparison between Tunisia and Morocco, Ashley Anderson connects the divergent protest strategies of each country to the varying levels of institutional incorporation and organizational cohesion developed by labor unions under authoritarian rule. Using material drawn from English, Arabic, and French news sources, archives and extensive interviews, Anderson demonstrates how Tunisia's exclusionary corporatist system enabled the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) to emerge as a powerful political actor, while Moroccan unions struggled to extract minimal concessions from the incumbent regime. By highlighting the interplay between authoritarian institutions, labor activism, and political reforms, this book sheds light on the challenges that labor organizations face in transforming their countries' political and economic future.
By:  
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Weight:   746g
ISBN:   9781009634939
ISBN 10:   1009634933
Series:   The Global Middle East
Pages:   394
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Ashley Anderson is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research and teaching interests are in comparative politics, with a focus on authoritarian regimes, Middle Eastern political development, and contentious politics. Anderson has previously published research with Cambridge University Press, and in journals such as Political Research Quarterly, Social Science and Medicine, and POMEPS Studies.

Reviews for Labor Unions and Democratic Unrest in North Africa: Protest and Resistance in Tunisia and Morocco

'Ashley Anderson reveals how the exclusion of organized labor from ruling coalitions can backfire and spark political transformation. Analyzing decades of protests from the MENA region, this exemplar of political economy showcases the potential of workers to challenge authoritarian practices, not only in developing countries but also the Global North.' Jason Brownlee, The University of Texas at Austin


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