Host country citizen behavior and expatriate adaptation in Tunisia[Les comportements des citoyen-ne-s du pays hôte et l’adaptation des expatriés en Tunisie]

A great deal of research has been devoted to the study of expatriation, but few of these studies have taken into account the influence of the behaviour of the inhabitants of the host country on the adaptation of expatriates. To fill this gap, empirical exploration is needed. The aim of this research is to understand the extent to which the behaviour of the citizens of the host country influences the adaptation of expatriates, and how to meet the challenge of behavioural distance. The research is qualitative, exploratory and falls within the interpretative paradigm. Thirty-six interviews with expatriates in Tunisia allowed us to detect the existence of adaptive behaviours and behavioural barriers specific to the Tunisian context. Moreover, many behavioural differences seem to be a trigger for conflict, which negatively influences the intercultural adaptation of the subjects in question.