As of last spring, Morocco has joined the ranks of Egypt and Tunisia by commanding global attention through heated pro-democracy protests. Morocco, their neighboring North African country and the third of the Islamic Maghreb states, is the last to join the trend.
“Social movement activists are talking to each other,” said Jeremy Rinker, visiting assistant professor of peace and conflict studies.
Still, the protests in Morocco have not commanded the same magnitude of attention in the world news, nor have the protests had a huge impact in the streets of large cities such as Rabat and Casablanca. Instead, the protests are marked by subtlety and a lack of national unity.
According to Time Magazine, protestors occupy the streets to draw attention to issues such as government corruption, unemployment and the country’s unbalanced distribution of wealth. Additionally, they call for a more democratic form of government, transitioning from the tradition of strong monarchical involvement.
However, many Moroccans look at the demonstration with disapproval. The current ruler, King Mohammed VI, is widely revered. According to Time Magazine, he has made substantial improvements in the areas of women’s rights and he has done much to curb government corruption. His regime even allows certain forms of protest.
According to the Wall Street Journal, one reason for the King’s popularity is primarily due to the memory of his corrupt tyrannical father, Hassan II, which is still fresh in the country’s memory.
The citizens of Morocco are divided by their differing opinions about the government. The polarization between generations also plays a factor. The protestors’ methods of organizing have been youth-oriented, relying greatly on the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Protestors scorn the older generation’s sense of contentment, claiming that, although Hassan II’s “Years of Lead” are over, there is still a need for change.
Critics of the demonstration say that Morocco is already a functioning democracy.
“The point is that if people want to change the government in Morocco, they just have to wait a couple of years until elections and do it,” said Robert M. Holley, a former U.S. diplomat and executive director of the American Moroccan Center for Policy, to the Wall Street Journal.
The movement even has divisions within itself. Participants disagree as to what degree of government reform is necessary.
One widespread position asserts that the changes King Mohammed VI has made since coming to power are simply meant to appease and distract the country from his otherwise unchecked government influence.
“The King had the possibility of creating a real model of democratic reform,” said Driss Ksikes, a Moroccan protestor whose magazine was censored and shut down by the government, to Time Magazine.
However, others still believe that the country should not completely reject the traditional monarchical elements. These protestors are inspired by other countries around the globe that have taken on a more modern form of government while maintaining their old monarchy for traditional and ornamental reasons.
“We want a monarchy, but like in Spain or England,” said protestor Aharahi Fawzi to the Wall Street Journal.
Morocco is the newest country to join the pro-democracy trend, so the nature of their movement is still being unveiled. Nonetheless, these divisions are notable and will be influential in the development and direction of the protests.