Moroccan uniqueness under Mohammed VI

Morocco under Mohammed VI has indeed developed its economy in an impressive way, has undergone bold and visionary transformations, and most notably has managed to find its way to modernity and democracy, thanks to a stable and avant-garde monarchy. 

Some international front pages highlighted Mohammed VI's reformist leadership, describing him as the King of a new era, who set his reign in a perspective of renewal and progress. Other front pages highlighted the King's lucidity and political will in Morocco's new status as a key regional power. 

In the same context, some specialists drew attention to the fact that Mohammed VI helped Morocco avoid the wave of the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ that swept across North Africa and the Middle East. Indeed, Morocco in this chaotic region of the world today appears as an oasis of stability, which invites some commentators to think that the Moroccan monarch's greatest success over the past 25 years has been the preservation of the country's stability. However, the King's proactive management of these crises actually went beyond the desire to guarantee the country's static stability. Mohammed VI did not limit himself to preventing the crisis from having devastating effects on Morocco, but made this very crisis an accelerator of the pace of legal, political and institutional reforms that, a decade later, have dramatically changed the face of the country. 

Morocco may not be the ‘exception’ that some like to describe it as, but it is undoubtedly unique, and it is precisely the uniqueness of its historical trajectory and institutional stability that has allowed it to overcome a series of major challenges, which is impossible for other North African countries facing institutional precariousness and uncertain political transitions. 

It seems clear, in the context of this Moroccan uniqueness, that monarchical legitimacy plays a decisive role both in internal political life and in international relations. In the same vein, we can therefore say that the most remarkable transformation of Mohammed VI's reign was the unprecedented consolidation of the King's status as head of state and Commander of the Faithful, in the sense that the King, forging an extraordinary charisma over the course of this quarter century, not only came to embody the aspirations of the new Moroccan generations, but also came to fully symbolise the new Morocco. 

It is worth noting in developing this idea that the history of a nation cannot be driven solely by abstract ‘factors’, since the real force behind social progress lies in the ideas, actions and indomitable spirits of extraordinary individuals. The experiences of brilliant philosophers, visionary leaders and historical leaders have demonstrated the immense power of the individual to shape the course of human events. Plekhanov, the father of Russian Marxism, had delved in his book ‘The Role of the Individual in History’ into the interaction between individuals and historical processes, explaining that the strength of an outstanding individual lies in his contact with the people, in his ability to organise the masses and to foresee the course of historical progress.  

With these same qualities of knowing how to interact with the people and being able to guide their destiny, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has indisputably contributed to renewing the historical legitimacy of the Moroccan monarchy, by, on the one hand, repositioning the State as a central actor within the political system, as well as the exclusive promoter of a societal project, and on the other hand, by mobilising the nation towards symbiotic adherence to this state, not only in terms of constitutional loyalty, but also in terms of committed citizen participation and the alignment of the living forces of society with the country's strategic orientations. 

In his address to the nation (20 August 2021) on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, His Majesty King Mohammed VI reiterated his conviction ‘that the State draws its strength from its institutions, as well as from the unity and cohesion of its national components. This is the weapon that allows us to defend our country in difficult times and crises, as well as when threats arise. This has been palpably demonstrated in the face of recent attacks systematically directed against Morocco by certain countries and organisations known for their hostility towards our country’. 

Morocco has indeed been confronted in recent years with an increase in fake news and provocative publications aimed at destabilising the country, targeting its King and the Moroccan monarchy. The instigators of these smear campaigns, dissolved like soap bubbles, seem to have had no idea what the throne represents for the Moroccan people, nor what the King symbolises in the perception of Moroccans. 

They believed and still believe that the 23rd Moroccan sovereign of the Alaouite dynasty is only a Sovereign, because they find it hard to understand that the one who sits on the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco today is exactly the living embodiment of the nation. Perhaps they will never be able to decipher this communion of which they themselves never cease to dream, nor will they be able to know that the deep bond between the people and their Sovereign embodies a relationship nourished by history, culture, and a progressive vision of the future. Perhaps they will never understand why, instead of sowing discord, these attempts at provocation only strengthen the unity of Moroccans around their King, and consolidate their attachment to the monarchy, they are so surprised because Moroccans respond to these provocations with more pride, dignity and solidarity. 

We can very sincerely say that the impressive figure of King Mohammed VI has been able to play a key role in the strong resurgence of Moroccan national sentiment, as well as in strengthening the cultural identity of Moroccans.

Of course, the monarchical regime has been in place in Morocco for more than twelve centuries, and Moroccans have never known any political system other than the monarchy, but it is also true that the Moroccan people, whose national identity has always integrated the monarchy as a fundamental element, have developed over the past 25 years a very particular perception of King Mohammed VI as an extraordinary king, transcending the classical limits of monarchical power. His actions, his decisions and the way he governs are profoundly shaping the modern history of his country. Indeed, the Moroccan sovereign, in his way of exercising kingship, embodies an indisputable leadership that is respected throughout the world. Not only because he is able to skilfully navigate complex geopolitical situations while maintaining impressive stability in an often turbulent region, but also because he is a King who has a clear vision for the future of his Kingdom, allowing him to remain deeply rooted in the country's traditions while embracing bold social reforms, in addition to his extraordinary ability to anticipate change and channel it constructively, which testifies to his political intelligence and his will to preserve the unity of the Kingdom of Morocco and to put its civilisational renaissance in perspective.