The role of individuals in influencing institutional change: the case of boundary spanners in post-revolution Tunisia – Sfax and Kairouan

Saif, Adnan Abdul-Rahman (2024). The role of individuals in influencing institutional change: the case of boundary spanners in post-revolution Tunisia – Sfax and Kairouan. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The role of individuals in institutional change in post-conflict societies has received relatively little attention. This qualitative case study examines how individual boundary-spanners influence institutional change across two localities in post-revolution Tunisia: Sfax and Kairouan. A novel framework is developed that recognises the relationship between structure, agency, and ideas; and in so doing enabled the assessment of changes in societal logics, their impact on boundary-spanners’ practices and the effect such practices had on institutional change in both localities. Selecting Tunisia as a critical case, the study identified boundary-spanners as agents working across complex issues within their localities. The dominant and competing logics available to them at societal level are the autocratic-state, the democratic-state and religion. The findings show, however, that these dominant societal logics do not align with religious versus secular identities. While post-revolution logics shifted, the legacy of the autocratic-state logic continue to be translated into practices by some actors. Although institutional change was observed in the local organisational field, the pace was different in the two localities, leading to institutional transformation in Sfax and more of maintenance in Kairouan. Boundary-spanners engaged in boundary spanning practices more proactively in Sfax than in Kairouan, through transformational decision making and identity-based mobilisation. Overall, the role of boundary-spanners in this post-autocratic environment was transformational in terms of setting and enforcing new norms of democratic participation, respect for diversity, and the acceptance of civil society into the local organisational field. Most significantly, the study found that the interplay between structure, agency and ideas, makes institutions more of scaffolds rather than cages, guiding and enabling the agency and relative autonomy of actors. This duality of structure and agency is not only mediated by ideas but, importantly, the dialectic process involving boundary-spanners’ multiple identities, salient issues and multiplicity of logics is the generator of ideas.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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