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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Public Lecture & Panel Discussion
In the current turbulent times in the Arab World, Morocco is a country where social protest is taken to the streets, but has so far not led to larger violent uprisings. To observers, the regime’s strategy of limited reforms and cooptation may at first glance be successful – but is the country really on a peaceful way towards democracy?
The country’s political system is – in spite of being an autocratic monarchy – more democratic than the former Tunisian or Libyan systems, for example because parliamentary elections are fair and many critical issues can be discussed openly in the media. However and in spite of recent reforms, king Mohamed V continues to dominate the political system, his control stretches over all important branches of the Moroccan economy and his personal wealth is one of the “red lines” media are not supposed to cross. In recent years, civil protest against rising prices for basic commodities and for more democratic and transparent governance has increased in recent years. The effects of the international economic crisis, high rates of unemployment especially among young and often highly qualified Moroccans, and persisting corruption continue to fuel social discontent. However, since the king’s recent reforms including a new constitution, the key player of the protests, the “mouvement du 20 février”, seems to get less support.
In this context, the debate at the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) will discuss the current political and socioeconomic change in Morocco and in the Arab World and raises, among others, the following questions: Which are the main factors of grievance and protest in Morocco today? Why has the transformation process evolved so differently in Morocco, in spite of similar reasons for protest as in Tunisia or Egypt? Are recent political reforms credible and do they really change the power configurations? Who are the opposition movements and which are their goals?
Programme
Welcome: Imme Scholz, Deputy Director, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
Public Lecture: The “Arab Spring” at the crossroads: where is Morocco heading to?
Aboubakr Jamai, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Foundation
Discussion:
Aboubakr Jamai
Annabelle Houdret, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
Matthias Ruchser, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) (Moderator)
Followed by a reception.
Background:
Aboubakr Jamai
Holder of the international Press Freedom Award 2003, editor of the Moroccan journal “Le Journal” until its forced closure in 2010 and currently Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Foundation in Berlin, will speak about recent reforms and persisting social mobilisation in Morocco.
Annabelle Houdret
Researcher at Department ‘Environmental Policy and Management of Natural Resources’ and with extensive work experience in Morocco and in the region, will point out how marginalisation of rural populations contribute to social unrest in the country.
Information on participating / attending:
Please register for the event with your full name and contact details at: presse@die-gdi.de
Date:
07/09/2013 17:00 - 07/09/2013 18:30
Event venue:
German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
Tulpenfeld 6
53113 Bonn
Nordrhein-Westfalen
Germany
Target group:
Journalists, all interested persons
Relevance:
transregional, national
Subject areas:
Politics, Social studies
Types of events:
Seminar / workshop / discussion
Entry:
06/14/2013
Sender/author:
Tanja Vogel
Department:
Stabsstelle Kommunikation
Event is free:
yes
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event44035
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