The Persistence of Injustice, Community Dislocation and Political Redefinition in Maghrebian Sahara

This paper reflects on the paradoxical relations between populations living in the Southern periphery and the “State” in the Maghreb. The paradox arises from the political and economic minoritization of these populations and the wealth of their territories. Since the mid- 2000s, however, some important contesting voices started to uncover this paradox and to make claims a better economic distribution, a just integration within the nation and/or a territorial autonomy. These claims are as a matter of fact contextual to each country (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) and should not be blended despite the similarities between them. This paper will explore each case by looking at the ways in which claims for justice are enunciated as well as the relationship to the center and not only to the State per se. In doing so, we will examine how the notion of “region” is been transformed by these claims from an exoticized anthropological tool to a political one which has to be counted for. Finally, we hope to propose a reflection on the new forms of the political.