Scratching the Democratic Façade: Framing Strategies of the 20 February Movement

This article tentatively assesses the role of the 20 February Movement in current Moroccan politics. Drawing on social movement theory, the analysis focuses on the ways in which the movement has attempted to challenge the legitimacy of the system in place. The article first provides a thorough description of the movement's characteristics. Subsequently, the frame analysis in the main part studies how the movement has sought to deconstruct the self-portrayal of the incumbent regime. It argues that the relevance of the challenge mounted by the 20 February Movement derives from its transgressions of red lines formerly delimiting political discourses in the kingdom.