Tunisia’s Internal Autonomy

Abstract

The Bey’s approval of the French plan on the national assembly triggered terrorist attacks against French settlers and Tunisian collaborators. Domestic turmoil would finally result in the French recognition of Tunisian sovereignty. However, the terrorist threat was not the only cause for the French policy change. What turned out to be crucial was Bourguiba’s attack against the Bey, who had betrayed the nationalist cause. Amin’s departure from the nationalists proved to be fatal in the post–World War II era, when popular sovereignty was increasingly gaining legitimacy. In other words, Bourguiba’s audacity in breaking with the Bey, whose popularity was waning but who had still been regarded as a legitimate sovereign by the majority of the people, was decisive. The collapse of the traditional authority of the sovereign led the French to change their power base in the country. Needless to say, the nationalists were now chosen as their collaborators, and this new method would eventually be applied to other French dependencies. The recognition of popular sovereignty was regarded as an effective strategy through which the French would build up cooperation with such collaborators. France’s effort would result in the reorganisation of the French Union.