Why does a conflict become forgotten? Using the example of the territory of Western Sahara in North Africa, the thesis explores the origin of the conflict, why it is still ongoing and how could social networks help to raise awareness of it.
The research was inspired by a seminar assignment in the course 'anthropology of migration' in the second year of my undergraduate studies. As part of the course, we were given the opportunity to do fieldwork in Morocco, where I first encountered the topic of Western Sahara. Already prior to fieldwork, I could not but wonder why no one was talking about this conflict.
Using historical literature, I present the history of Western Sahara: the years before the war with Morocco (starting in 1976), the emergence of the Polisario Front, the first attempts of a referendum, and until the signing of armistice in 1991.
In the historical part, the thesis mainly relies on Pablo San Martin's Western Sahara: The Refugee Nation (2010). In the second part, my research shows how the Sahrawis coped with life in the occupied territory under Moroccan rule. I outline Sahrawis peaceful protests in the first years after the war in the occupied territory and later on show, how Sahrawis again opted for war with Morocco, due to years of unresolved conflict and apathy. The thesis focuses on the relationship between peaceful protests and war, and tries to give a possible solution to end the conflict, based on other authors.
In the last part of the thesis, the focus is on social networks and internet as tools that could help to raise global awareness about the conflict itself. The thesis mentions some of the major organisations from Europe and Western Sahara that have been drawing attention to the conflict and injustices experienced by Sahrawis.
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