By Dr. Mohamed ChtatouMorocco is viewed by many as an exception to the norm of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Across the MENA region states typically are autocratic and corrupt. In many other MENA states, secular, authoritarian governments that rule through military legitimacy (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, etc.) Ahmed Charai, a Moroccan political analyst, publisher and journalist, the Moroccan exception is, undoubtedly, the result of historical and political legitimacy:vii“The first is a unique aspect of Moroccan political culture that most populous Arab countries cannot easily emulate. Lyautey had a soft-spot for Moroccan culture and safeguarded the Moroccan traditions while modernizing the country.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 01, 2018 03:45 UTC