Political legitimacy and variations in state-religion relations in Tunisia

What are the main factors explaining the dynamics of secularisation and de-(re)secularisation? In this article we go beyond both traditional understandings of state-religion relations as mechanically determined by structural forces (i.e. modernisation) and more recent accounts, which posit that processes of secularisation and de-secularisation are largely influenced by ‘civilization histories’. We maintain that these historical processes are instead the result of contingent political choices and reflect the struggle for survival of both secular and religious forces. More specifically, we argue that the quest for political legitimacy had an impact in determining actors’ stances toward the role of religion in politics and society. We use the aforementioned theoretical framework to explain the secularisation, de-secularisation and finally re-secularisation processes in Tunisia from its independence to the latest Ennahda Congress held in May 2016.