The so-called “Arab Spring” injected considerable dynamism into the Arab world, triggering a wave of transformational processes. It is no coincidence that the impulse for these transformations came from Tunisia, a country in the Maghreb.

Being ‘in Motion’ – this notion to a large extent characterizes the cultural region of the Maghreb. Multiple entanglements, transfers, and mobilities are exemplary not only of the region’s internal structure, but also of its relationships with Europe, Africa and the Arab world.

From these interrelationships, the region has a dialectic between the periphery and the center, between the reception and production of ideas, and between change and constancy. It justifies our interest in understanding the Maghreb and supports the concept for this conference.