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Whitman College

Publication Date

Spring 2020

Program Name

Morocco: Migration and Transnational Identity

Abstract

The history of Moroccan Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is almost as long as the country’s history with migration. After Morocco's record as a sending country, its unique location attracted an increasing flow of migrants from the rest of Africa to transit the territory in hopes of crossing over to Europe. More recently, tighter border securitization has resulted in notable numbers of migrants permanently settling in Morocco. Significant changes in migration policy have both prompted and resulted from this progression. And simultaneously, national NGOs have strengthened their role as protagonist advocates for migrants’ rights as well as foremost providers of target-diverse support mechanisms. In this study, through a historical analysis of policy, relevant literature and short interviews, I will examine the relationship between the Moroccan State and the country’s civil society working on migration. By examining the evolution of the legal framework through which the Moroccan State interacts with NGOs, I intend to determine whether there is congruence between the government’s approach and the achievement -or lack thereof- of NGOs’ work. In addition, I will consider the influence of international pressure (i.e. the European Union) in Morocco’s migration affairs. And ultimately, I seek to investigate the contextual implications of these findings in the current and future life of migrants.

Research Question: In what ways is the Moroccan State partnering with, patronizing or marginally involving the country’s civil society with the responsibility of migrant-related issues, and how does this relationship look moving forward?

Disciplines

African Studies | Civic and Community Engagement | Immigration Law | International Relations | Leadership Studies | Migration Studies | Organization Development | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation | Politics and Social Change | Social Welfare

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