Atlas du Maghreb

On the occasion of the publication of the Atlas du Maghreb (Autrement editions), the Cafés Géo of Lyon invite you to a discussion dedicated to the contemporary transformations of this region. Released to mark the 70th anniversary of Moroccan and Tunisian independence and the 15th anniversary of the Arab Spring, this work aims to take stock of the renewal of research in the humanities on the Maghreb—from the very definition of this space to the social, economic, and political recompositions shaping it today.

What exactly does the term “Maghreb” encompass? Far from being self-evident, this regional category also refers to constructed representations, often shaped from the outside, at the crossroads of several broader areas: Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. While the countries that make up this region share certain historical legacies—particularly the experience of colonization and the importance of Islam—their differing trajectories, as well as the internal tensions and fractures that run through them, call into question the coherence of this grouping. As such, the issue of the Maghreb’s boundaries and unity remains open, as does the question of its specific place within the dynamics of globalization.

In a context marked by profound transformations in Maghrebi societies and by the challenges linked to the region’s evolving role on the international stage, several questions will guide the discussion: how can the Maghreb be defined today as a regional space? What social and economic recompositions are shaping its societies? What place does the region occupy in contemporary geopolitical balances?

In keeping with the spirit of the Cafés Géo, the evening will begin with a presentation of the book by its authors, Anne-Adélaïde Lascaux and Benjamin Badier, followed by an open discussion with the audience in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.