The Role of Constitutional Reforms in Morocco During the Arab Spring

Abstract

This article focuses on the reform policies enacted by Mohammed VI, king of Morocco, in response to the uprisings which took place during the Arab Spring. The main thrust of the article centers on the reforms of the Constitution and on the role these reforms played in providing a concrete response to the democratic demands put forward by the February 20th Movement. The article presents an analysis of an extremely complex situation: Morocco is a country with specific political, social and religious characteristics, ruled by a Sovereign who has been legitimized both politically and religiously, and with a constitution which has been amended. The final objective is to understand whether the situation in Morocco has effectively changed or whether the demands for democratization have simply been disregarded. The main question is still very much open; it concerns the new Constitution and its ability to stem the progressive spread of protests throughout the Moroccan region. In terms of modus operandi and the violence of the staked claims, such uprisings may well resemble those which spread across the entire north African area.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p710