The Reflection of the Theme of “Unity of the Maghrib” in the Constitutional Texts of the States of the Region

This article examines the constitutional dimension of the idea of “Maghreb unity” as a key to understanding contemporary challenges to regional integration. Despite the declarative commitment to unity enshrined in the founding treaty of the Arab Maghreb Union (1989), its institutional development has stagnated for a long time. The author proposes an analytical approach focusing on the evolution of the constitutions of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania as indicators of the ideological and strategic priorities of these states. A comparative analysis reveals ambiguities in the perception of a common identity. The concept of the “Greater Maghreb” appears to be an element of political discourse rather than an unconditional basis for solidarity. Its active constitutional entrenchment is characteristic of Algeria and Morocco, which is explained by their rivalry and internal factors. In other countries of the region, its representation is restrained or absent, which is interpreted as a distancing from the ambitions of more powerful neighbors. The final conclusion indicates that the evolution of constitutional formulations reflects not only the diversification of Maghreb countries’ strategies, but also a fundamental ideological divide and a deliberate distancing of national identities. Genuine regional consolidation remains impossible without overcoming both these deep-seated contradictions and the key systemic barrier–the conflict over Western Sahara, for which there are currently no visible signs of resolution. In the foreseeable future, interaction will likely develop within a pragmatic, problem-oriented framework rather than through the implementation of large-scale supranational projects.

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