Work

Between affordable welfare and affordable food: Internationalized food subsidy reforms in Egypt and Tunisia

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: The public subsidization of food is an important element of North African welfare states, guaranteeing access to affordable nutrition and maintaining food security even in times of economic downturns. Since the 1970s, universal food subsidy schemes have come under growing international pressure, and North African countries have selectively adopted policy recommendations and adjusted their subsidy schemes. Comparing the empirical cases of Egypt and Tunisia before and after the 2010/11 uprisings, we analyze the linkages between international organizations, national governments and local welfare demands and explain what kinds of reform alliances emerge between these actors. We find that until 2010, internationalized social policy reform was structured by governments' brokerage of international and domestic pressure and adaptation of reform aims. Since then, two modes have unfolded: in militarized Egypt, coercive closure secured an alliance and the respective subsidy reforms, whereas in Tunisia, polarization disconnected domestic and international policy goals.

Source: Social Policy and Administration

DOI: 10.1111/spol.12710

Authors: Kressen Thyen, Roy Karadag

Institution: University of Bremen

Language: English

Topic: Social Policy and Reform Studies

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Partnerships for the goals, Zero hunger, No poverty

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,700