The security – democracy trade-off? EU policies and civic space in Morocco

Abstract

This study critically examines how the securitisation of EU external policy in Morocco affects the country’s prospects for democratisation. It places civil society at the centre of the analysis, framing it as a key actor in bottom-up democratic transformation. The research argues that the EU’s securitised agenda undermines these efforts by reinforcing authoritarian practices and constraining the development of a genuinely free and independent civic space. This occurs primarily through the instrumentalisation of civil society engagement mechanisms to implement EU migration objectives, and through the marginalisation of critical or politically sensitive actors whose involvement might jeopardise stable relations with the Moroccan government. The study draws on critical literature and document analysis to explore the intersection between the EU’s strategic interests and its normative claims in Morocco, alongside an assessment of the country’s associational landscape. It also presents a case study based on fieldwork in the Melilla-Nador border region, incorporating interviews with civil society representatives. These local perspectives shed light on how EU actions are perceived on the ground, and how civil society actors interpret the dynamics of democratisation, securitisation, and migration governance.