Political Reforms and Stability in Morocco
Event Featuring:
Overview
Dr. Azoulay first spoke on Morocco's "Tranquil Revolution" and the state of its democratic reforms, citing the importance of a strong economy in ensuring democratic stability. He also emphasized the West's need for a greater understanding of the Arab world, and fielded questions on a range of issues including Morocco's standing as a peacemaker in the wider Middle East, the results of the UN millennium project in Morocco, and the role of the Moroccan Diaspora.
Event Summary
Dr. Azoulay began his address by describing the uniqueness of his position as the only Jewish advisor to a Muslim head of state. This provided a backdrop for his remarks on Morocco’s progressiveness and on the healthy state of its democracy, which he referred to as “strong, but not irreversible.” Dr. Azoulay further explained that democracy is a continuous process that must deepen on a daily basis. The proper conditions must be cultivated to create a concrete system and to avoid slipping into mere ideology. As an example, he cited the recent entry of Islamists into the Moroccan political game as strengthening rather than weakening democracy.
Dr Azoulay broadened his talk to financial matters, insisting that democracy must be accompanied and sustained by a strong economy. He spoke briefly about the spectacular improvements in the economic sector, most notably the dramatic surge in annual foreign investment, which climbed from approximately 100 million to more than 4 billion over the past ten years.
He then described society as a key element in establishing a stable democracy and a strong economy. With the dramatic global changes that came about after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent incidents in London, Madrid, and Morocco, he characterized the world as confusing and argued that these events can only be handled when situated historically. Dr. Azoulay emphasized that although Morocco supports Arab causes, it does so from an open-minded perspective, sharing the same fears and values as the rest of the world. As with other countries in the Arab world, Morocco’s paramount concern is the education of its children.
Following his short talk, Dr. Azoulay fielded questions from the audience. The first centered on Morocco’s position on current and recent conflicts in the Middle East. Dr. Azoulay described Morocco as an agent for peace both in the case of the Lebanese civil war and in the Israeli/Palestine conflict. He argued that the only solution is rooted in politics, and lamented that every attempt except the political has been made. He did not outline any plans for Moroccan involvement in Iraq, but welcomed the report from the Baker-Hamilton Commission as a potentially positive step forward.
On the role of remittances, Dr. Azoulay pointed out that such funds generate and strengthen useful political and cultural ties with other countries. He also stressed that although remittances are a key component of national revenue, the government works hard to keep the economy diversified and articulated to ensure that it is not dependant on remittances.
In closing, Dr Azoulay said Morocco is not interested in being a clone of any other country; rather it possesses the capacity for modernization without a loss of tradition.
About this Event
Dr. Andre Azoulay offered these remarks in the Boardman Room at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC on December 13, 2006. This event was co-sponsored by the Middle East Institute and the American Moroccan Institute.
Speaker Details
Dr. Andre Azoulay has served as Counselor to His Majesty Mohammed VI King of Morocco since 1999. Previously he served as Counselor to the king's father, the late King Hassan II, from 1991 to 1999. Mr. Azoulay has received distinctions including Commander of the Wissam Al Arch (Kingdom of Morocco) and Commander of the Legion d'Honneur (France) and is an active participant in Morocco's financial institutions, including the Board of the Central Bank of Morocco, the Royal Academy of Morocco, and the Royal Academy of Spain for Economy and Finance. He is also a Member of the Board and President of the Executive Committee of the Foundation for "The Three Cultures and the Three Religions," based in Seville, Spain, and is the Founder and Chairman of "Identity and Dialogue," an association created in 1974 in Paris dedicated to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and more broadly, between Jews and Muslims.
Attributions
This event summary was written by Isaac Morrison, an intern in the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center at the Middle East Institute and a recent graduate from the University of Maryland in College Park. Ashley Goodrich-Mahoney peer-edited this summary. She is an intern in the publications department and a recent graduate of Oxford.
