Abstract EN:

Rather than adopt the usual institutional and state approach when dealing with the question of maghreb unity, this thesis lays the emphasis on the crucial role of the maghreb civil societies as well as the underlying historical and social reasons responsible for it's developement during the 80's. Thus, inter-magheb dynamics are not only seen from a political angle but also through the existing relationship beetween the basic populations and political powers. Beginning with a multidiscplinary analysis behind the concept of the civil society, this is then applied to the maghreb populations and hence to a fiel work study carried out with their principal instigators (trade union members, human rights/woomen's rights members) thus revealing : the source and drive of the civil societies, their decisive role in the creation of interior and transnational networks along with the religious, cultural, social and political implications. This study tends to show that unity among maghreb countries cannot be achived only with political pressure since the ability of the civil societies to create human, cultural and historical foundations in the regional conglomeration is predominant.