In the last five years, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco experienced a new wave of protests
from the most
under-developed or often “marginalised” regions within each country. “Thirsty” protests
in Morocco’s Zagora
region in 2017, unemployment protests in Tunisia’s Tataouine region since 2017, and
anti-marginalization
protests in Algeria’s Tin-Zaouatine region in 2020 are all examples of bottom-up activism
against continued
socio-spatial inequalities in the Maghreb. This paper aims to examine the role of
popular protests in reducing
regional disparities in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, which could be described as
“inherited” or “sustained”
social patterns. To meet this aim, cross-case analysis will be carried out. Results
of the comparative study reveal
that bottom-up protests played different roles in each case, where in Morocco’s Zagora
region, protesters
“drove” the government to act, while in Tunisia and Algeria, protesters’ role was-and-remains
“ineffective” in
meeting their demands as demonstrations continue in Tunisia and Algeria.
