Moroccan nationalism

Moroccan nationalism refers to the nationalism of the Moroccans and Moroccan culture. Historically, it has been influenced by the conflicts between the Saadi Sultanate and European countries along with the Ottoman Empire, French and Spanish colonialism in Morocco and Arab–Islamic nationalism.

The first manifestation of a Moroccan national identity was in the 16th century under the Saadi Sultanate. Moroccan nationalism first developed in the 1920s among urban intellectuals in cities like Rabat, Fes and Tangier under European colonial rule but after the Berber Dahir, it began to encompass the masses and helped to organise the nationalist movement. In the 1930s, early nationalist organisations like the Moroccan Action Committee were formed to protest the Berber Dahir and seek reform. These nationalist figures eventually published the Moroccan Plan of Reforms.

After a split in the nationalist movement and the exile of several nationalist leaders, nationalists shifted their goal from reform of the protectorate in line with the Treaty of Fes to complete independence with Mohammed V as king. Several parties were formed at this time with the biggest being the Istiqlal Party. The Istiqlal published an Independence Manifesto laying out the nationalist movement's demands for independence. Around this time, Sultan Mohammed V became increasingly involved with the nationalist movement publicly aligning himself with the nationalists with the Tangier Speech. This eventually led to his deposition and exile by the French and grand caid and Pasha of Marrakesh Thami El Glaoui. The exile of Mohammed led to the rise of urban violence and rural violence with the establishment of the Moroccan Liberation Army. Thousands of attacks occurred in major cities like bombings and assassinations. This eventually led to Mohammed V returning and the French and Spanish leaving Morocco.

In 1956, the Istiqlal published a map depicting Greater Morocco, which covered the land they argued belonged to Morocco historically before colonialism. This irridentist claim later would influence the foreign policy in Morocco and play a role in their claim over the Western Sahara. The 1975 Green March led to Spain exiting the Western Sahara but it brought Morocco into conflict with the Polisario Front due to their competing nationalist claims.