OAR@UM Collection:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/30842
2026-04-04T21:40:41ZMorocco's usage of migration as a weapon for its foreign policy
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/109140
Title: Morocco's usage of migration as a weapon for its foreign policy
Abstract: In recent decades, Morocco has changed from being a country of
emigration to a country of transit as well as a destination for migrants, mainly
from Sub-Saharan countries. At the same time, the Kingdom has become a
key player in migration control in the Southern Mediterranean, at the external
borders of Europe, and one of the main partners in security cooperation of the
European Union.
Morocco’s main concern regarding foreign policy has been the question of
the Western Sahara territories, and has been long looking for the international
community to accept its position. Moreover, the EU maintains an ambiguous
or unclear position on the matter, primarily because of the different
approaches the member states have to the problem and the political interests
involved.
This research attempts to show that Morocco uses migration management
as a weapon for its foreign policy towards Europe. Through a case study
methodology and conducting desk research, mainly through the analysis of
texts, papers, reports and press articles, and using the process tracing
technique, I will analyse how Morocco has been reacting against some
decisions taken in Europe. Through the Coercive Engineered Migration theory,
I will explain how the country challenges its European counterparts using
migration flows, and the reasons behind these coercive attitudes.
Description: M.A.MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES2018-01-01T00:00:00ZCommunity and heritage in a post-museum context : conceptualising sense of place, space and identities in Bormla, Malta
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/46425
Title: Community and heritage in a post-museum context : conceptualising sense of place, space and identities in Bormla, Malta
Abstract: This
thesis
investigates
the
conceptualisation
and
practice
of
heritage
within
a
particular
community
in
Malta.
It
looks
at
museum
theory
with
regard
to
mainstream
museums,
historic
sites
and
notions
of
heritage
which
also
underpin
the
concepts
of
community
and
of
ecomuseums
and
post-‐museum
spaces.
These
theories
are
based
on
issues
of
objectivisation;
hegemony;
democracy;
identity;
memory;
community
and
the
collective.
Chapter
One
discusses
some
of
these
theories
and
looks
at
the
many
variables
that
are
part
of
the
remembering
process
that
is
crucial
to
any
attempt
to
record
the
past
or
view
the
present.
It
looks
at
the
way
in
which
community
and
post-‐museum
ideas
have
given
importance
to
tangible
and
intangible
heritage,
participation
and
notions
of
space,
place
and
time,
thus
creating
a
broader
museum
context.
The
value
and
meaning
of
authenticity
is
examined
and
its
importance
for
creators
of
all
types
of
museum
–
from
the
galleries
of
capital
cities
to
the
community
projects
of
a
small
town.
It
is
discussed
with
regard
to
heritage
sites
and
with
it
the
issue
of
official
and
unofficial
memory
and
the
tensions
that
can
arise
between
the
two.
The
thesis
also
looks
at
the
question
of
community
as
idea
and
as
an
ideal
–
from
its
seemingly
simple
definition
to
its
sometimes
problematic
realities.
The
case
study
through
which
these
theories
are
contextualized
is
the
city
of
Cospicua,
Malta,
which
lies
on
the
southern
side
of
the
Grand
Harbour,
between
the
peninsulas
of
Senglea
and
Vittoriosa. The
methodology
used
in
the
fieldwork
was
qualitative.
This
consisted
in
one-to-one
interviews
and
focus
groups.
It
also
involved
several
previously
arranged
‘conversations’
with
people
from
or
connected
with
Bormla
as
well
as
ad
hoc
discussions
with
people
encountered
in
the
streets
and
shops
of
the
city
during
my
many
walks
in
its
different
areas.
The
main
reason
for
which
Bormla
was
chosen
for
this
fieldwork
was
that
it
has
no
mainstream
museum,
only
one
small
private
museum
and
no
community
museum
or
space
for
expressing
Bormla’s
cultural
heritage
beyond
the
very
significant
religious
celebrations
both
inside
and,
as
performative
cultural
manifestations,
outside
the
Church.
The
research
questions,
therefore,
aimed
to
unpack
the
realities
of
Bormla’s
community
or
communities
and
to
engage
people
from
various
sections
of
that
society
so
as
to
examine
issues
of
identity,
sense
of
place
as
well
as
to
generally
look
at
those
variables
regarding
the
process
of
memory
mentioned
above.
The
research
questions
focused
on
the
community’s
regard
for
the
history
of
the
city
and
those
aspects
of
heritage
that
are
still
significant
and
evident
in
the
life
of
the city
at
the
present
time.
They
also
endeavoured
to
discover
whether
the
people
of
Bormla
wished
to
promote
their
city
within
its
own
walls
as
well
as
to
other
Maltese
and
to
tourists.
The
two
final
chapters
look
at
practical
ways
in
which
the
coordinates
for
such
a
development
regarding
all
kinds
of
cultural
activity
could
be
achieved.
The
findings
that
result
from
the
fieldwork
undertaken
show
that
there
are
different
groups
within
the
community
of
Bormla
that,
however,
interact
more
than
is
probably
perceived
by
each
of
those
groups.
There
was
an
understanding
and
appreciation
of
Bormla’s
long
history
even
amongst
those
who
did
not
have
detailed
knowledge
of
the
city’s
past.
There
was
a
significant
recognition
of
the
importance
of
the
Church
with
regard
to
present
heritage
practices
even
amongst
those
who
declared
themselves
not
to
be
regular
churchgoers.
The
figure
of
the
Madonna
of
the
Immaculate
Conception,
to
whom
the
Parish
Church
is
dedicated,
is
a
unifying
element
that
transcends
political,
social
and
even
anti-‐clerical
sentiments.
Several
local
historians,
both
professional
and
amateur,
have
gone
to
great
lengths
to
create
awareness
amongst
the
Bormliżi
about
the
city’s
history
and
heritage
that
is
not
connected
directly
with
the
Church.
This
has
not
translated
into
activities
that
might
celebrate
Bormla’s
more
secular
assets.
This
is
in
contrast
to
Vittoriosa/Birgu,
in
particular,
but
also
to
Senglea/L-‐Isla.
What
is
lacking
is
not
the
interest
on
the
part
of
the
local
population.
On
the
contrary,
most
are
well
aware
that
such
promotion
would
go
a
long
way
to
easing
the
stigma
associated
with
the
city.
However,
there
are
not
the
structures
in
place
to
make
this
happen.
Bormla
is
changing
physically
before
our
very
eyes.
Elements
of
gentrification
are
becoming
ever
more
evident.
My
conclusion/recommendation
is
that
with
a
grassroots
effort,
with
help
from
local
communities
workers
and
NGOs
and
with
the
endorsement
and
support
of
the
authorities
such
as
the
Bormla
Local
Council,
there
could
be
a
wider
spectrum
of
contemporary
heritage
events
and
greater
recognition
of
local
history.
This
would
go
someway
to
improving
the
image
of
Bormla,
to
creating
economic
activity
associated
with
small
businesses
and
tourism
and
to
giving
the
city
the
place
it
deserves
alongside
its
neighbours
not
through
imitation
but
through
innovative
approaches
to
Bormla’s
diverse
narratives.
Description: PH.D.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z