Seminar: Marokko og det arabiske forår

TIME: Thursday, 10 January, 14.15-16.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Nordskov Meeting Room, Wilders Plads 8H, 3rd floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

TIME: Thursday, 10 January, 14.15-16.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Nordskov Meeting Room, Wilders Plads 8H, 3rd floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

Morocco has not been immune to the Arab Spring. Since 20 February 2011, a popular movement has been demonstrating regularly against corruption and for political reforms. King Mohammed VI has responded by drafting a reformed constitution, which has been approved by popular referendum.

The new constitution promises strengthening of the elected government, increasing independence of the courts and a strengthened protection of human rights. Yet, it remains to be seen whether these changes will materialize, as the Palace retains the ultimate political control.

The moderate Islamist PJD party won the parliamentary elections in November 2011 and has now formed a new coalition government. Will the new Islamist-led government push for increasing popular sovereignty and create the ‘parliamentary monarchy’ called for by the demonstrators in the street? Will they put the limits of the political reform will of the Palace to test, by insisting on an implementation of the many changes promised by the new constitution?

And what is the role of the Moroccan media in this process? Whereas they were among the most free and independent Arab media in the 1990s, recent years have seen serious set-backs. Will this change in light of the constitutional reform and the new Islamist-led government?

Speaker:
Aboubakr Jamai is founder of the independent Moroccan weekly magazines Le Journal and Assahifa, which have both been closed due to their critical writings. For the past years, he has been teaching courses on Political Islam and Politics in the Middle East and is currently a fellow at the Ash Center at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. His articles have been published in the New York Times, Time Magazine, El Pais, Le Monde, and Le Monde Diplomatique.

Programme:

14.15-14.30: Arrival and Coffee

14.30-14.45: Introduction; Julie Pruzan-Jørgensen, Project Researcher, DIIS

14.45-15.30: Morocco in the Arab Spring; Aboubakr Jamai, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

15.30-16.00: Open Discussion

Chair: Michael Irving Jensen, Head of Mena Department, IMS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use the online registration form from the website no later than Monday, 9 January at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.