Historical Analysis of the Emergence of Political Parties in Algeria and the Maghreb: Future Scenarios from Independence to the Arab Spring

Political parties are a mechanism for enriching political life and providing a suitable environment for political procedures within the framework of democracy and consciousness. They are one of the manifestations of democracy and a reflection of political, social, and economic reality. Parties in Africa, especially in North Africa, are one of the pillars of the political process. Due to the many commonalities between Algeria and the Maghreb, including being in North Africa, neighboring France, sharing a colonial history, and even in terms of the emergence and scenarios of the parties, they have many similarities with each other. The objective of this study is to investigate the emergence and scenarios of political parties in Algeria and Morocco.
Research Methods and Questions: This descriptive-analytical study comparatively examines the emergence and scenarios of political parties in Algeria and the West. The most important questions of this study are: What are the reasons for the emergence of parties in Algeria and Morocco? What is the role of political parties in the independence of Algeria and Morocco? What are the scenarios for the emergence of political parties in Algeria and Morocco?
The historical roots of the emergence of political parties in Algeria and the Maghreb date back to the colonial era. After independence, the two political systems viewed the party system differently. In Algeria, after years of a one-party system, it ended the socialist system and established a multi-party system in 1989. Morocco also adopted a multiparty system. In order to survive the wave of the revolution known as the "Arab Spring," the Algerian and Maghreb regimes devised measures.
Algeria and Morocco share many similarities, such as being located in North Africa, having common racial, religious, and linguistic affiliations, and both being former French colonies. The historical roots of the emergence of political parties in Algeria and the Maghreb date back to the colonial era and are among the aspects of resistance and the demand for the rights of the two nations. After independence, the two political systems in Algeria and Morocco viewed the party system differently. In Algeria, after years of a one-party system, it ended the socialist system and established a multi-party system in 1989. Morocco also adopted a multiparty system. The Maghreb achieved independence in 1956, and Algeria achieved independence in 1962, but the relationship between the two countries has been tense ever since. In 1976, their diplomatic relations were severed for 12 years until 1988. Although the two neighboring countries have diplomatic relations, the level of these relationships is not the same. The Polisario Front and the issue of the Western Sahara and the export of narcotics from the Maghreb are among the main causes of the dispute between the Maghreb and Algeria.
This article comparatively examines the emergence and scenarios of political parties in Algeria and Morocco. The most important approach of this research is that the historical roots of the emergence of political parties in Algeria and the Maghreb date back to the colonial era. After independence, the two political systems viewed the party system differently. In Algeria, after years of one-party rule, it ended the socialist system and established a multi-party system in 1989. The Maghreb also adopted a multiparty system. In order to survive the wave of the revolution known as the "Arab Spring" or "Islamic Awakening," the Algerian and Maghreb regimes devised measures. The Algerian government builds political parties in the Balkans; hence, it became only the central parties and parliament to legitimize the goals and decisions of the government. In the West, too, the court weakened its parties and publicized itself. But due to concerns about the authority of parties such as Esteghlal, it has given in to the multiparty system. One of the commonalities between the parties in Algeria and the Maghreb is the growth of Islamist parties in a particular period and their weakening at the same time. The central policy of Algeria and Morocco from the emergence of political parties that could threaten national unity and sow the seeds of discrimination and racism among the people; also abuse freedom of expression; is worried. Hence, they were constantly updating the rules. The year 1996 was a decisive turning point in the process of political transformation of the two countries. It can be said that this process is the beginning of political success after the suspension of the election process. It is also the beginning of the reconstruction of institutions related to the category of political parties. On the other hand, we are witnessing political factionalism in the Maghreb, which led to a consensus and ended a long period of disagreement and the exchange of accusations and hypocrisy against each other.