Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
This research interprets contemporary Tunisian–Algerian relations through the
lens of asymmetric interdependence, offering a nuanced analysis of the power
dynamics embedded in their energy relationship. Employing a disciplined
configurative case study design, the study systematically applies established
theories of asymmetric interdependence, particularly relative vulnerability and
the influence effect, to energy trade data, oil and natural gas infrastructure, and
patterns of fiscal and emergency assistance. The analysis demonstrates that
Algerian energy policy and financial support have contributed to an
interdependent relationship in which Algeria is relatively less vulnerable than
Tunisia, generating latent conditions for economic influence without asserting
that coercive instruments have been deployed. By situating this relationship
within the Global South and outside traditional great-power contexts, the study
extends the empirical application of interdependence theory to a comparatively
understudied regional setting.
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Harlow, Samuel, "Asymmetric Interdependence in Tunisian–Algerian Energy Relations" (2025). Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean. 5.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/tnc3/5