Onder het wakend oog van de koning. De 20-Februari beweging in Marokko

Abstract

Nina ter Laan recalls how during the Arab Spring little has been published in the international press about protests for democracy in Morocco. Despite the Moroccan government's eagerness to present Morocco as an 'exception' in a region in turmoil, young bloggers inspired by revolts in other countries have instigated a protest movement through Facebook. The February 20th Movement, deriving its name from the first day of protest, has attracted a broad spectrum of sympathizers who gather every Sunday in cities across Morocco to demonstrate peacefully against the government and to demand democracy. The author analyzes how the February 20th Movement, the Moroccan parliament, and the monarchy respond to what is generally known as the 'Arab Spring' and how they try to influence its Moroccan incarnation.