Morocco

Abstract

Morocco’s political development is sometimes presented as a ‘model’ for Arab monarchies, if not the Arab world as such, by Western commentators and politicians, such as the president of the European Parliament (BBC 2012; European Parliament 2012). Its political system acknowledges a minimum degree of political liberalization, for instance by inviting opposition groups into power (alternance), and, in July 2011, a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum, which, among other things, weakens the direct power of the king in favour of a publicly elected prime minister. Yet, more critical voices say that these political reforms are only small (cosmetic) concessions which prevent, rather than produce, any true democratic change, as they do not seriously threaten the extended power apparatus of the Makhzen — that is, the king and his largely unaccountable and shadowy political entourage (Molina 2011; Volpi 2013).