English
Religious Pluralism in Post-“Arab Spring” Morocco
Title of the lecture : “Re-problematizing the Religious Majority-Minority Dialectics in Post-Arab Spring Morocco: Between Subalternity and Digital Disobedience”
Given the debate currently prevailing over religious freedom in post-2011 MENA, the provision for a rationale for investigating the official discourse on religious minorities in Morocco in the light of the “Marrakech Declaration” is likely to maximize spaces of contesting the State’s (semi) authoritarian strategies (Ottaway, 2013) of controlling the (un)equal inclusion of “subaltern” religious groups as well as renegotiating the notion of equal citizenship.
In this regard, this paper seeks to re-problematize the religious majority-minority dialectics in Morocco as a predominantly Muslim country where Sunni Malikite Islam is a source of political legitimacy and the basis of the State’s identity. It also looks within a critical framework at the different ways through which the Moroccan government has intended to institutionalize the religious field and “modernize” it.
Lecture given at the 3rd international congress of the PLURIEL network, from 23 to 27 May 2022 in Beirut.
In partnership with Saint Joseph University of Beirut and La Sagesse University.
Titre original de la conférence : “Re-problematizing the Religious Majority-Minority Dialectics in Post-Arab Spring Morocco: Between Subalternity and Digital Disobedience”
Compte tenu du débat qui prévaut actuellement sur la liberté religieuse dans la région MENA post-2011, la fourniture d’une justification pour enquêter sur le discours officiel sur les minorités religieuses au Maroc à la lumière de la ” Déclaration de Marrakech ” est susceptible de maximiser les espaces de contestation des stratégies (semi-) autoritaires de l’État (Ottaway, 2013) de contrôle de l’inclusion (inégalitaire) des groupes religieux ” subalternes ” ainsi que de renégocier la notion de citoyenneté égale.
À cet égard, cet article cherche à re-problématiser la dialectique religieuse majorité-minorité au Maroc en tant que pays majoritairement musulman où l’islam sunnite malikite est une source de légitimité politique et le fondement de l’identité de l’État. Il examine également, dans un cadre critique, les différentes manières par lesquelles le gouvernement marocain a voulu institutionnaliser le champ religieux et le “moderniser”.
Conférence donnée lors du 3è congrès international du réseau PLURIEL, du 23 au 27 mai 2022 à Beyrouth.
En partenariat avec l’Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth et l’Université La Sagesse.
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