Social class and entrepreneurship in North Africa: analysis of applications from returning migrants for API projects in Tunisia

Abstract

The Ibadite tradition (a minority stream of Sunni Islam in south-east Tunisia) has a central ethic that positively values commerce and this is seen
in the economic projects developed by Tunisian returnees, particularly from south-east Tunisia. We discuss the applicability of European concepts of class
analysis in non-Western contexts such as the MENA region, in particular Tunisia. Concerning class formation, Tunisia was at independence (1956)
a relatively egalitarian society based on rank, which has since experienced an increase in inequality, class formation and class consciousness. Our
approach draws on Weber on the economic role of religion, including his argument that Islam was not conducive to capitalism and industrialisation.
We suggest that Ibadite Islam in particular has been conducive to trade, drawing on data from the Tunisia-HIMS (2021) study of the economic
projects of return migrants from south-eastern Tunisia, including the predominantly Ibadite island of Djerba, which suggest a high percentage
of commercial projects. We also discuss the concept of entrepreneurship and the obstacles to industrial development.