The Paradoxical Mutations of Salafism in Morocco

Abstract

This chapter takes Morocco as a case study to investigate the bifurcating paths that the most dominant strands of Salafism have taken in the kingdom. Special attention is paid to how the Arab uprisings of 2011 expedited the mutations, paradoxes, and adaptations of quietist Salafism. On the one hand, Morocco’s “Arab” Spring nudged Salafis toward political engagement as a means to protect their interests. On the other hand, the subsequent derailment of the Arab uprisings exposed major fault lines within the Salafi community. The chapter illustrates this great rift by tracing the course taken by two of the most prominent figures of this current and the critical stages that have influenced their ideological postures, relations with the ruling regime, and adaptability to local and regional changes.