Bourguibism

Bourguibism (Tunisian Arabic: البورقيبية il-Būrgībiyah, French: bourguibisme) refers to the policies of Habib Bourguiba, the first President of Tunisia, and his followers.

Bourguibism is defined by a strong commitment to national independence and specifically Tunisian nationalism (as opposed to pan-Maghrebi or pan-Arab ideas),^[1][2] a state capitalist approach on economic development,^[3][4] welfare state,^[5] a statist and corporatist interpretation of populism,^[6] strict secularism,^[7] and cultural modernity, advocating Tunisia's place as a bridge between Arab-Islamic and Western civilisation.^[8] While Bourguibists condemned Tunisians who had collaborated with the French colonial rulers,^[9] they did not repress the strong European cultural influence on Tunisia and French continued to be the language of higher education and elite culture.^[10] Bourguibism is sometimes described as a variety of Kemalism but with focus on the Tunisian identity.^[11]

As a political style or strategy, Bourguibism is characterised by intransigence in pursuing certain goals and non-negotiable principles combined with flexibility in negotiations and readiness to compromise considering the means to effectuate them.^[12] It is therefore described as pragmatic, non-ideological, moderate, and reformist rather than revolutionary, but determined and relentless at the same time.^[13][14] For example, despite being decidedly secularist, Bourguiba made sure to curtail the public role of Islam only carefully and gradually, in order not to arouse opposition from conservative Muslims.^[10]