Webinar: What mobilises MENA? Identifying the trends and trajectories of regional contentious politics after the first wave of uprisings - Session 2

The Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action is pleased to announce the second session of its webinar series for 2021-2022 

Beyond Winter and Spring: politics and social contention in the MENA region after 2011

Date: Thursday 9 December at 4pm (Beirut time). 

Session 2: Unrest in the “kingdoms of reforms”: trajectories of contention in Morocco and Jordan

With speakers: 

Dr. Sarah Ababneh, University of Sheffield

Dr. Myriam Catusse, Institut Français du Proche Orient

Dr. Jillian Schwedler, City University of New York

Dr. Soraya el-Kahaloui, Ghent University

The session will be moderated by 

Dr. Rossana Tufaro, Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action

When the first wave of Arab Uprisings broke out, the monarchies of Morocco and Jordan were welcomed by most of the observers as two examples of virtuous regimes having managed to contain social discontent by addressing people's demands for change. This positive assessment built predominantly on the immediate demobilizing effect sorted on the squares by the cosmetic constitutional reforms promoted - or promised - by the two crowns, within the framework of a broader mainstream understanding of the Uprisings as circumscribed, eventful democratisation processes (whether achieved or attempted) addressed to replace the existing authoritarian regimes with fully-fledged liberal systems.

Ten years after 2011, both Morocco and Jordan have experienced a steady repressive shift in the management of socio-political dissent. Equally important, the persistence of sharp socio-geographical inequalities has continued to trigger the emergence of sustained contentious cycles calling into question, from the entry point of socio-economic grievances, the capacity of governors to honor the social contract with the governed. 

By shedding a light on the forms and trajectories of social contention in Morocco and Jordan after 2011, this webinar aims at scrutinizing how the ‘return to the social question’ can help us to better understand the profound changes which have been crossing Arab societies in the past decade.

The webinar is part of the thematic cycle “Beyond Winter and Spring: politics and social contention in the MENA region after 2011”, within the framework of the Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action’s research program on social justice and social contention in the MENA region. 

Date and time: Thursday 9 December at 4pm (Beirut time). 

Language: This webinar will be held in English and Arabic. Interpretation will be available. 

Registration: The webinar will be hosted on zoom. The link will be sent via email prior to the webinar. Please fill in this form before December 6, 2021: https://bit.ly/3qYKmsZ 

Submit your questions to the speakers ahead of the webinar on the same link!