This chapter sets the scene by introducing social movements, their broader societal and political implications, and how we make sense of them. It comprises a brief review of the literature on social movements in North Africa and their ramifications for democratization. It also discusses the most salient theories of social movements and their various aspects and characterizations. It introduces the theoretical framework adopted—namely a combination of the political process theory, Fraser’s tripartite theory of justice, and Isin’s model of citizenship—dealing with the inter-relations between ethnicity, political power, culture, the state, and other stakeholders, their strategies, and interactions. The chapter discusses the differences between the three countries under study (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), providing an overview of their relevant dynamics. It presents the six major movements: the nationalist, the democracy and human rights, the Islamist, the Berber (Amazigh), the women’s, and the youth movements.