Morocco's African Political Landscape
A new book published by the renowned Brill Publishing House delves into Morocco's African policy, providing an in-depth analysis of the Kingdom's approach towards the continent it belongs to, highlighting its multifaceted identities that transcend mere geographical boundaries. Authored by researcher Yousra Abou Arabi, this insightful work examines Morocco's ties to two distinct worlds: Africa and the Arab region. It elaborates on the country's foreign policy and its emergence in a new multipolar world, emphasizing pivotal projects such as the Allal El Fassi initiative, the complex issue of Western Sahara, and Morocco's unique African political strategy. Special attention is given to the reign of King Mohammed VI, the country's migration policy, and the concept of 'moderation policy' as it pertains to culture and religion.
A Multifaceted Approach to African Relations
In his foreword to this English-language reference work, Jean-Noël Ferri, a research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), describes the book as "intriguing on multiple levels" as it enlightens readers about the construction of regional public policy. It offers a comprehensive view of Morocco's public policies and their interconnections with political institutions, while also shedding light on the intricate diplomatic life within the continent. The author presents the "African motivations" behind Morocco's renewed focus on the continent, particularly following its return to the African Union after decades of absence during the reign of the late King Hassan II. The book explores the origins and evolution of this renewed engagement through thorough international relations analysis, documentation, and in-depth research involving various stakeholders in this policy landscape.
Among the key themes discussed in the new book is the role of the monarchy as a primary actor in African diplomacy, alongside Moroccan political institutions, economic players, and civil society organizations. The foreword also notes that Morocco's return to the African Union was executed with remarkable professionalism, coinciding with the launch of a new migration policy aimed at regularizing the status of irregular migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan African countries. The book outlines several aspects of this policy, concluding that Morocco enjoys the "luxury" of having its foreign policy align with its internal policy, where various strategies converge to support its African policy across cultural, religious, environmental, and security dimensions.
It is worth noting that Brill Publishing, a prestigious name in the European academic context, released over a year ago an encyclopedia in English focused on "Contemporary Moroccan Thought," which covers a wide array of names and topics, including figures like Mohammed Aziz Lahbabi, Abdallah Laroui, Mohammed Abed Al-Jabri, Ali Oumlil, and others. The encyclopedia discusses contemporary Moroccan issues, including gender perspectives, the Qadiri-Boudchichiyya approach in politics, and the sociological studies of Moroccan leftists and Jews in the struggle for democracy, among many others.
As reported by hespress.com.
