Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
Amidst the wider regional unrest that the Arab Spring ushered in, and as we observe the ghastly events that are, in all probability, about to unfold in Syria, there has been a nation that has been less convulsed by chaos but which, nonetheless, has quietly gone about some reforms.
I’m talking about Morocco and its monarch, King Mohammed VI, who proposed some constitutional reforms in the wake of protests that began in June this year in his country. The big difference? The changes have occurred peacefully, without bloodshed, have not dissolved established institutions, and were approved by a 98% popular vote.
To call the reforms modest is an understatement. Magna Carta they are not.
The King maintains complete control of the military, is still the head of state, has sweeping policy power, and appoints the Prime Minister (who is nominally the head of government). However, since Members of Parliament are elected by the people, the King is now required to appoint a Prime Minister from the majority party, and the Prime Minister will have the ability to appoint all ministers of government (subject to the King’s veto) who have more narrow policy authority.
The reforms fall short of a constitutional monarchy as we recognize the term, but the example Morocco provides, and how stable it proves, raises these two big picture questions in my mind:
1) Is it due to the particular history and culture of Morocco that it was able to accomplish these mild reforms, and quell an uprising, unlike so many of its neighbors in the region? Or was it due to prudent statecraft?
2) The United States has permanent interests in this region and is going to have to respond in some way to these reforms. Should we be praising the Moroccan example or condemning it as not going far enough?
How much question (2) turns on the outcome of question (1), I leave you to decide.
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Re: Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
A quick, cynical reaction: Nothing confirmed by a "98 percent popular vote" is ever really confirmed by a 98 percent popular vote.
Mar '11
Re: Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
Agreed. I should probably have put quotations around the facts the NYT reported there.
Mar '11
Re: Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
Legally, the Queen of England maintains all of these powers and more. De facto, she has almost none.
I think the US should be thrilled with Morocco, and encourage more economic freedoms for the benefit of all Moroccans. The political freedoms will grow over time.
It takes an awfully long time to change a culture. Iraq has come an astonishingly long way in a very short time, but other Arab countries are showing how difficult it is to make any kind of transition to freedom-loving democracy.
Oct '10
Re: Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
Culturally, Morocco is influenced by the Moors ( their ancestors) who occupied Spain for 700 years. Reverse assimilation is at work here. Morocco is Muslim with a strong Spanish Monarchical influence. It has for long been sympathetic towards the West.
Recognize the cultural tightrope that this borderline nation walks, and applaud their direction. My belief is that most of the "Arab Spring" movement is the Ikhwan taking power. Morocco is the exceptional case.
They deserve our strong support and encouragement, and recognition that this is the best we can expect in North Africa.
Mar '11
Re: Wouldn’t You Know, We’re Riding the Marrakesh Express. All aboard the train?
I tend to agree that Morocco--especially given its history and demographic make-up (that is, largely, Maghreb and not Arab or Persian) is one of the reasons we should be more optimistic about it then some of the other troubled nations in the region.
Additionally, and while extremely slowly, the King has offered some liberating reforms earlier in his reign, as the NYT notes.
I suppose that my overall impression would be that we should be cautiously optimistic about the chances for continued reform here, and use some of the significant aid dollars we push into Africa to aid in development in Morocco, specifically in making the "little platoons" of private life and enterprise a little bit stronger (community job training centers, technology, business skills) and increase trade.
Nevertheless--don't forget that some of the underlying issues that caused the uproar in a number of the north African countries--specifically a lot of young, unemployed, undertrained men--are also present in Morocco. That's definitely not a recipe for success and far from guarantees a good outcome.