Subject The African Continent

Section The Travel countries Task 1

Title Morocco
Wording The task is to study Morocco, identify the different features that
constitute Morocco of today, look upon the apparent poverty and
lack of development into a context, and make some
considerations for the future
Time 10 hours
Introduction

Morocco lies on the left shoulder of Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea,
the Maghreb countries Algeria and Mauretania and can look the 16 km across the strait of
Gibraltar to the southern tip of Spain. A quite central position in many ways and with many
implications on the situation of Morocco, at times an advantage, at other times the opposite. The
history tells about Morocco both as an empire, a state and a colony.

Geographically Morocco spans from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara desert and with lowlands and
big mountainous areas in between. The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Still
40-45% of the Moroccans work within the agricultural sector, which only accounts for around
14% of the GDP. Thus agriculture is still important, but mining, especially phosphates, service
and e.g. the tourist industry plays an increasing role in the national economy. Morocco’s economy
has been in growth for the last decade or so, and Morocco has been ranked as the 2nd most
competitive economy in Northern Africa by the World Economic Forum.

Compared to Europe and the industrialized world, Morocco is still a poor country, lacking many
of the economical and political developments characteristic for the modernity. The history of
Morocco gives some answers to this. Berber tribes has inhabited the area for thousands of years,
before year zero it was traded by the Phoenicians, and the area became later a part of the Roman
Empire as the province of Mauretania. The economic value of the area was partly built on the
trans-Saharan trade. During the Islamic expansion from the 8th century it was invaded by different
Arabic tribes who also made the population convert to Islam. The expansion was capable to cross
the strait of Gibraltar, and the Moors, stemming from Morocco, reigned in half the Spanish area
from the 8th to the 15th century and had a considerable influence on the period of renaissance in
Europe.

The Moroccan rulers had supremacy over the Maghreb area, and they also expanded to the south,
conquered big parts of the present Mauretania and was a threat to the big Songhai Empire in Mali
in the 15th century. But it was too difficult to keep together this vast area, and at the same time the
European colonial powers started to trade along the coast and reach the other end of the trans-
Saharan trade routes where the gold was expected to be. The Ottoman Empire was a challenge
from the east and reached the borders of the present Morocco. The Moroccan rulers managed to
hold a certain independency, but not as a strong state.

During the 19th century the Ottoman Empire became weaker, and the European colonial powers
got stronger, and in the late 19th century they divided the whole African continent between them
into colonies and areas of interest. In 1912 an agreement was signed that Morocco was under
French supremacy, and Morocco became a French colony until after the Second World War.
Morocco had its independency in 1956 in a relatively peaceful way, contrary to the neighbor
Algeria who got into a vicious liberation war against the French. The independency of Morocco as
a monarchy was clearly only political from the beginning. Economically Morocco was very
dependent on France, the former colonial power, and this is a characteristic still valid today,
though Morocco is on its way to rely on own forces.

When Spain gave up its colony, Western Sahara, in 1975, Morocco invaded the area together with
Mauritania, fighting the local liberation movement “The Polisario Front”. Morocco claimed its
supremacy of historical reasons. Morocco is now in control of the biggest part of the country. A
small part is under the control of the liberation movement – The Polisario Front, and during the
past decades this conflicts has resulted in severe human rights abuses and also war. Both parties
have their support in the international community. A solution is yet not agreed upon.

Morocco’s geographical position in the North West corner of Africa has meant that it has
developed into a multicultural country, with influence from the African, Arabic and European
cultures. The different groups are relatively integrated. Most people speak several different
languages as something totally natural - Classical Arabic as Morocco’s official language and
Moroccan Arabic which is something quite different, are both mastered by most people. Almost
half of the 32 million people speak a Berber language and in addition to this French still serves as
the primary language of commerce and economics. Almost 99% of the people in Morocco are
Muslims and religion has a big importance in the daily life of the majority of people
This relatively diverse but integrated blend of people with different backgrounds has given
Morocco a rich and many sided culture and, maybe, a more liberal view upon the world compared
to e.g. Algeria and Mauritania. Together with the mild climate and the beautiful nature it has been
the basis for the in many years growing tourist industry. The Moroccans are in contact with the
world and the developments outside the country. Internally there has been a development towards
a more liberalized, modern society where issues like human rights and gender equality plays a
more and more important role.
Morocco has a kind of parliamentary system, growing in importance, and with relatively free and
fair elections, but the King is still the most important and the executive power. This means that
major societal changes have to go via the King. At the other side the authority of the King rely on
the support from the population. He has to be aware of what is going on in the society. This
political balancing has brought some political changes to the better. It has also given space for a
beginning civil society, though abuses of human rights still are common. Moroccan women have
organized themselves to make conditions better for the women towards equal rights. This
development is at its start, but until now it has had some success. The “Arabian Spring” has shown
in Morocco also, but has not had the violent expressions like in the other North African countries.
In several ways there is a positive development happening in Morocco. But there is long way to
go, and many Moroccans, especially the educated from the towns, think it goes too slow. In the
rural districts it is different. Poverty is also quite widespread even though Morocco has one of the
strongest African economies. Around 4 million people live below the national poverty line and 3
million of them live in the country side. The gap between the living standard in the rural areas and
in the cities is very big. This has brought many young Moroccans to migrate to European countries
like France and Spain to look for a better future, a brain drain for the country.
Morocco has political and economical agreements with the EU. This does not automatically bring
stronger economical development, but it can maybe add to the speed of the social and political
development in the country.
 Directive
Read the questions, find the necessary relevant sources and follow the directives.
Use more than one source to make your statements more valid, if possible.
Remember, that unless data is physical measureable, they are always subject to discussion.
So you have to decide what is the relevant data, the correct data, the truth?

1. Search and find general information about Morocco. Find 20 facts which you think are
some of the most important, connected with Morocco’s economy, population, and
geography.
Compare these facts with those of a country you know. What do the facts tell you about
Morocco as a country and about the life for the Moroccans?

2. Study about Morocco and try to find answers to the following questions.
 How does the political system function in Morocco? The King has a big importance in
Morocco - find out more about in which ways, and what this means for Moroccan politics.
Does it seem like politics in Morocco is very similar to the democratic systems you know
from Europe, or is it very different, why and how? What do you think this means for the
ordinary people in their daily lives?
 What is the situation with Human Rights in Morocco? Which concrete examples of human
rights violations can you find? Is the situation improving?
 Find facts and information about poverty in Morocco? What is being done to help the poor
and is the situation improving?
 What kind of relation does Morocco have to its neighboring countries? Give examples of
positive and negative types of relation, both to Europe and the neighboring African
countries.
 Which are the most important traditions for people in Morocco, and what does this mean
for the life of people?

3. Prepare and hold a good presentation for your team about Morocco. Use different methods
and products.

4. An additional task which you can choose to do, which could be a very nice addition to your
studies and presentation: Moroccans are the largest group of people from North Africa
living in Denmark. Find Moroccans who live here and invite them for an evening in Tvind
or go and visit them. Prepare well with good questions.

Files Suggestions for files:

Books:
Morocco: Challenges to Tradition and Modernity, by James N. Sater, 2010

Documentaries:
A documentary about women’s rights in Morocco “Women in the Front
Line”:
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/women_on_the_front_line_morocco.

Websites:

EconomyWatch.com - the largest online economics community in the world.

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/morocco/export-import.html
 AllAfrica.com: a website which aggregates and indexes content from over
130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are
responsible for their own reporting and views.
http://allafrica.com/morocco/

1. Search and find general information about Morocco. Find 20 facts which you
think are some of the most important, connected with Morocco’s economy,
population, and geography.
Compare these facts with those of a country you know. What do the facts tell
you about Morocco as a country and about the life for the Moroccans?

National name: al-Mamlaka al-

Maghrebia ~ ”The
Western Kingdom”

Capital: Rabat

Biggest city: Casablanca

Official languages: Arabic,

Berber.
However, French often used
for business,
government, and
diplomacy.

Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%,

others 1%

Religion: Sunni Islam 99%

Morocco Denmark
Population 33 816 188 (2015 est.) 5 643 606 (2015 est.)
(76/ km2) (131/ km2)

Growth rate 1,07% (high birth rate) 0,25% (birth rate, death rate
equal)
Age dependency ratio 51,4%
53,2%
Population pyramid

(expanding) stationary
contracting

Area: 446,550 sq km
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m. highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
(- mountains: Atlas Mountains (consist of 3 ranges: the High Atlas mountains,
Middle Atlas mountains, Anti Atlas mountains); the Rif mountains)
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Climate: Along the coast it is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild winters
inland: the climate gets more extreme closer to the Desert.
Environment: current issues:
Land degradation/desertification, soil erosion resulting from farming of
marginal areas, overgrazing.
The water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs;
Oil pollution of coastal waters
Agriculture: Approximately 12% of Moroccan territory is cultivated;
13% is forested;
75 % is rangeland

Moroccon’s economical situation:

“Morocco has become a major player in the African economic affairs, and is the 5th African
economy by GDP.
The major resources of Morocco Denmark
the Moroccan economy
are agriculture, GDP (purchasing power GDP (purchasing power
phosphates, and parity): parity):
tourism $252.4 billion (2014 est.) $249.5 billion (2014 est.)
Industry and mining $245.2 billion (2013 est.) $247.1 billion (2013 est.)
contribute about one- $234.9 billion (2012 est.) $248.3 billion (2012 est.)
third of the annual GDP. note: data are in 2014 US note: data are in 2014 US
Morocco is the world's dollars dollars
third-largest producer country comparison to the country comparison to the
of phosphorus after world: 57 world: 58
China and the United
States, and the price GDP - real growth rate: GDP - real growth rate:
fluctuations of 2.9% (2014 est.) 1% (2014 est.)
phosphates on the 4.4% (2013 est.) -0.5% (2013 est.)
international market 2.7% (2012 est.) -0.7% (2012 est.)
greatly influence country comparison to the country comparison to the
Morocco's economy. world: 91 world: 163
Key economic
challenges for Morocco
include reforming the education system and the judiciary, while increasing the competitiveness of
the private sector.” [This information is taken from our group work]
2. Study about Morocco and try to find answers to the following questions.
 How does the political system function in Morocco?
 The King has a big importance in Morocco - find out more about in which ways,
and what this means for Moroccan politics.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. In 1999, after the former
king’s death (King Hassan II), who was an autocratic ruler, his son, King Mohammed VI
became the leader of the country. Although, his leadership seems to be a more democratic
one with new reforms, there are still many areas ( high level of poverty, illiteracy, and
unemployment, etc), which are asking for further changes.
Most of the main powers are joined in one hand. The king is not just head of the country,
but leader of the military and spiritual life.
The king can issue decrees, called dahirs, which is a rule of law that has the force of law. He
can also dissolve the parliament after consulting the Prime Minister and the president of the
Constitutional court.
 Does it seem like politics in Morocco is very similar to the democratic systems you
know from Europe, or is it very different, why and how?
However, Morocco has a parliament, elected government by the people, we can not say that
the country has a well-functioning, liberal democracy. Because of all power being
concentrated in one hand and the parliament that is mainly corrupted. There is no liberty of
speech, the media is being controlled by the king, serving the purpose to promote the king
and being quite about things, which could be compromising for the him and his
surroundings. In contrast with this, in Europa the decision-making is shared with the elected
parliament, having different responsible secretaries for the different areas. (Sadly sometimes
this is still not enough to prevent corruption…)
 What do you think this means for the ordinary people in their daily lives?
Ordinary people’s rights are not represented by chosen Members of Parliament or even
protected by laws. (Most of the people do not even go for elections, mainly because they
don’t see the point of doing it -thanks to the corruption- or because of lack of knowledge).
Therefore, the main elements are missing to have a life with dignity. Thousands of children
even from 7-8 years old -predominantly girls- are hired already as domestic workers, for
very little money. This also results in not attending school, which has a big price in their
future. (“The Kingdom of Morocco has a literacy rate of about 56.1% for the total population with
the female literacy rate hovering around 43.9%. In other words, just about 43.9% of the total
population of females above the age 15 can read and write in Morocco today.”)
Another burning issue is the low level of wages. More then 15% of the population in Morocco lives
on less than the poverty line, which is $1 a day.

 What is the situation with Human Rights in Morocco? Which concrete examples
of human rights violations can you find? Is the situation improving?
After King Hassan II’s death, many cases became revealed, where state officers used
violence, torturing by order of the king against people, who “committed crime” against the
king or were suspicious. Many people disappeared for ever. When King Mohamed VI
started his ruling he presented himself as the one who brings a new beginning of the
monarchy moreover he promised to accelerate the process of improving human rights in
Morocco. It was the result of his work that in 2002 the first free, fair and transparent
election was held in Morocco.
Later on the traditional family code was also changed, by increasing marriage age for
women from 15 to 18 and making the divorce procedure a mutual agreement between
husband and wife. However, the latter was changed in 2011 constitution.
In spite the fact that the new king tried to “make it up” for what his father did to the
Moroccans, there are still many cases, which would be unacceptable to happen in Europa
 for instance.
“, in 2012 a student was sentenced for three years of prison time for insulting the king by
calling him a “dog,” “a murderer,” and “a dictator” on his youtube video. Or one of the
Saharawi activists Aminetu Haidar was detained upon entering Laayoune when she filled in
“Western Sahara” as her country of origin in customs form. When the airplane landed, her
passport was confiscated and she was deported from the country. Right after that she started
a 32-day hunger strike and after heave pressure putted by European governments and U.S.
Department of state putted on Moroccan authorities she was allowed to return home.”
Towards different religions the people and the state is tolerant, they do not prefer atheism,
though.
Generally speaking the situation, relative to human rights have been improved a lot in the
last decades, but still with an eye of a European young girl it is far away from something
admissible.
 Find facts and information about poverty in Morocco? What is being done to help
the poor and is the situation improving?
Knowing that Morocco is the 57th on the world list by its GDP –just before Denmark- we
could think that it means there is no poverty, the country is booming. However, numbers,
statistics are often can show us a very different image of the truth. In Morocco 4 million
people live below the national poverty line - $1 a day.
The distribution of these people are very various. Although, most of them live in the
mountain areas, where the possibilities for farming are very low. However, high level of
poverty is also can be found in the rural areas. Very often families send their kids to the big
cities to take any jobs and send their salary back home. This has a big price: long hours of
work, lack of rest, wage exploitation, different ways of violence, lack of protection, lack of
education. Another way, that the parents take different kind of seasonal jobs for 3-6 months
and leave their children behind.
In the last decades there were already some projects for reduction of poverty (electrification,
making roads for better transport, solutions for portable water, etc.). There are also other
plans for future developments aiming at the agricultural sector and the private services.
 What kind of relation does Morocco have to its neighboring countries? Give
examples of positive and negative types of relation, both to Europe and the
neighboring African countries.
Maroccos major issue with the neighboring countries is all connected to the Western Sahara
unsettled situation. After Western Sahara got its independency from the Spanish occupation
(1975) Morocco and Mauritania annexed the territory within the same year.
All these lead to a guerrilla war in 1979, which made Mauritania withdraw, letting Morocco
to take the territory entirely. Until now the peace processes have been failed and the
situation is still unsolved.
Due to the situation, regarding Western Sahara, Morocco and Mauritania had
disagreements, their economic ties are still solid, though.
Since Algeria’s interests does not include Morocco’s lands expansion Algeria was
supporting the Sahrawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front. Which causes
conflicts between the two countries. This issue remains a major obstacle to Moroccan-
Algerian regional integration, although, they have full diplomatic relations.
Since 2013 Morocco and The European Union has a new action plan for creating stronger
political relation, better agreements and higher level of corporation. Europa is also
Moroccon’s main export and import partner since Morocco has a free-trade agreement with
Europa for the Euro-Mediterranean area.
 Which are the most important traditions for people in Morocco, and what does this
mean for the life of people?
Moroccans are well-known about their hospitality, there is always one more place on the
 floor to enjoy the food from the common bowl with right hand.
One of the most important traditions, that has a big effect on young people’s –especially
girl’s life- that the parents are the ones who choose the partner for their children. The
decision usually has been made on economical bases. The bride has to bring dowry to the
marriage. Another traditional rule is that Muslim girls can’t merry to men of other religious.
However, Muslim men are allowed to merry outside of Muslim.
These traditions are mainly have an effect on women’s lives. Women are ‘not supposed to’
walk alone in the streets, go alone somewhere. There are places where they are not
welcomed or being separated by the men.

3. Prepare and hold a good presentation for your team about Morocco. Use different methods
and products.

4. An additional task which you can choose to do, which could be a very nice addition to your
studies and presentation: Moroccans are the largest group of people from North Africa
living in Denmark. Find Moroccans who live here and invite them for an evening in Tvind
or go and visit them. Prepare well with good questions.

Sources:
 http://countrymeters.info/en/Morocco
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html
 http://pjd.ma/fr/actualites/mustapha-ramid-la-r%C3%A9vision-du-code-p%C3%A9nal-vise-
%C3%A0-moderniser-la-justice-p%C3%A9nale
 https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/11/15/lonely-servitude/child-domestic-labor-morocco
 http://www.africaw.com/morocco-today-major-issues-and-challenges
 http://www.irishtimes.com/news/moroccan-king-in-referendum-win-1.879350
 http://www.statehoodandfreedom.org/en/moroccan-occupation/moroccan-human-rights-abuses
 https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/morocco/western-sahara
 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/220579.pdf
 http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/morocco
 http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/women_on_the_front_line_morocco
 http://www.somalipress.com/morocco-overview/foreign-relations-morocco-1097.html
 http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/morocco/export-import.html
 http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/The-United-Kingdom-of-Morocco.html
