Zawaya

Renewing the social contract

By: Iqbal Al Gharbi

Morocco enjoyed a great deal of continuity throughout its history, as it inherited a long State tradition and did not succumb to the Ottoman stranglehold. Moreover, colonial authorities had preserved the traditional structures of the country and relied on traditional leaders to manage it.

The Alawite dynasty regained its legitimacy by complying with the nationalist claim of the independence movement. It put religion at the heart of its institutional body, and King Hassan II (1929-1999) became officially “Commander of the Faithful” in 1962, under Article 19 of the constitution, and he stemmed his legitimacy from a divine order.

This symbolic supremacy established a system where politics and religion are intertwined within an institutional framework controlled by the monarchy.

Today, Morocco’s particular political features under the Commander of the Faithful are no longer enough to protect the country from Islamism, and from the threat of terrorism that now bears the al-Qaeda’s label.

As a matter of fact, Morocco announced earlier this month the dismantling of a 27-member cell linked to AQIM, which was plotting to attack national and foreign security forces, rob banks and establish a “rear base” in the country for its activities.

It should be noted that this terrorist threat concerns all Maghreb countries, for which the “Maghreb of terrorism” is both a reality and a challenge.

How can governments encourage citizens to report suspicious activities to the authorities?

By renewing the social contract.

The global crisis has taken its toll on Maghreb youth, with the unemployment rate ranging between 20% and 40%.

These young unemployed individuals tend to exclude themselves from civic and political life. According to Bourdieu, unemployment is a social death where free time is seen as dead time, a meaningless time filled with nothingness. This suffering and marginalization contradict the very essence of the modern State and citizenship, and make “coexistence” and the “common good” lose all meaning.

The transnational phenomenon of terrorism is expanding throughout the region, drawing its vitality from the poverty, exclusion and despair of marginalized youth, and thriving in a fertile ground of underdevelopment and corruption.

A redistribution of wealth will mobilize citizens to explore other modes of productive cooperation, exchanges, solidarity, and life.

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia proved the ability of Maghreb youth to play a major role in the counter-terrorism fight.

During the recent events, the self-defense committees of young people could foil the evil plans of the armed groups of the former regime, thanks to their vigilance and cooperation with the security forces.

Strengthening a genuine civil society will lead to promoting responsible citizenship.

However, the instrumentation of associations by Maghreb authorities will only encourage indifference and weariness toward public affairs.