Local Legitimacy and Tax Policy: Qaids as Part of a Composite State in Colonial Tunisia

Abstract The colonial history of Tunisia has long been dictated by sources that made the qaid (an official in charge fiscal attributions), from viewpoint capital city, a local notable and often prevaricator. This study proposes to reconsider relationship between government regional power context drawing on recent work Ottoman studies about provincial elites. article reforms interwar period cereal-growing region Tunisia, relying Arabic produced qaids, namely administrative correspondence authorities, prime minister, controllers. describes role qaids negotiation national law specificities finally highlights decentralization way thinking state 1930s. It contributes taxation highlighting territorial fractures North Africa agency actors under protectorate.