How can Social Cohesion Foster State-Building and Confront Tribalism? A Comparative Analysis of the Post-Arab Uprisings Period in Tunisia and Libya

The Middle East and North Africa have experienced mass protests political changes since the end of 2010. Indeed, uprisings were a decisive turning point in history Arab world. Although leading causes revolts appear to be similar, as they result from repression socioeconomic grievances, their outcomes highly different, thus each state has developed distinct state-building process. This article aims explain one main factors that led these divergences by comparing role “social cohesion” Tunisia’s Libya’s uprisings. study concludes that, while strength social cohesion Tunisia fostered civil society explains certain degree relative success democratic transition country, weakness Libya damaged fabric therefore increased emergence tribal conflicts post-transition era.