From Neutrality to Post-Neutrality? : A Case Study on Tunisia's Shift from Neutrality in the Dispute of Western Sahara

Abstract: This thesis seeks to investigate the shifting role of the Republic of Tunisia in the North African region of Maghreb, where Tunisia has maintained its neutrality in the dispute of Western Sahara. Lately, however, Tunisia’s foreign policy manoeuvres have demonstrated a shift from its neutrality to post-neutrality. This thesis utilises the theoretical frameworks of constructivism and role theory to aid understanding how this shifting role of Tunisia is perceived in the international system. The study takes the form of a positivist case study where we utilise a process tracing technique in order to determine the sufficient explanation to Tunisia’s shift from neutrality to post-neutrality. We find that it is the causal processes of (1) Morocco establishing bilateral relations with Israel, (2) Tunisia’s preference to improve its ties with Algeria, and (3) President Saied’s meeting with the President of the SADR that provide an explanatory account for the shift in Tunisia’s formerly neutral stance in the dispute of Western Sahara.