Social Movements and Protest in Transitional Contexts: The Maghrebi Case

Abstract

This paper presents and analyzes sociological theoretical approaches towards social protests. It studies group behaviour and development in Maghrebi cities and the transition from violent and bloody uprisings to non-violent public street demonstrations led by both classical and modern collective movements. Collective movements are actions that are neither defined by systemic crises nor by the marginalization or deprivation of their social actors. Rather, it is the ability of these actors - when resources allow them - to mobilize in defense of their own interests and values that define these movements.