International Migration and Socio-Spatial Dynamics in the Tunisian Sahel: The Case of the Town of Sayada

Known as being one of the most important migratory homes (centers) in the central Tunisian Sahel, the town of Sayada is a space of numerous socio-spatial dynamics, increasingly influenced by the effects of the international migration. In fact, Sayada has witnessed migratory waves according to diverse rhythms and calendars caused by various aims. The socio-economic and socio-cultural scenery of Sayada is largely marked by international emigration. The young identify with this phenomenon. This is a field in which the making of social relationships and sociabilities has been promoted by the international emigration. As a matter of fact, men and women of different ages and from different socio-economic situations and categories, have been attached for some years to the idea of emigration. Strategies and logic of various kinds act and give rise to social mobilization (matrimonial practices, huge family concerns resulting from the migratory plan, an active role for women). The socio-spatial changes and socio-professional transformations that Sayada witnesses are directly related to the international emigration. Real estate issues and the morphology of the town witness deep changes, as an essential result of the migratory gains invested in the urban economy. They are generated by the economic and social transformations in different time phases