Moroccan Monarchy and the Islamist Challenge: Maintaining Makhzen Power [Hardcover]

This book examines the factors behind the survival and persistence of monarchical authoritarianism in Morocco and argues that state rituals of power affect the opposition forces ability to challenge the monarchy.Theoretical Approaches to the Prevalence of Authoritarianism The Makhzen and State Formation in Morocco Politics and Culture in Morocco: A Disciplinary-Cultural Approach to Power Rethinking Political Islam: the Public Sphere and Islamic Activism in Morocco The Islamist Challenge to Regime Hegemony in Morocco: Contested Legitimacy and Positionary Strategies General Conclusions

Anyone interested in Moroccan politics, academics as well as policy makers, should acquire this book. Daadoui accomplishes a rare feat: an essay of 150 pages that clearly explains the persistence of the Moroccan monarchical-authoritarian political system... He challenges the one-dimensional views of Islamism and contemporary Arab regimes, offering a parsimonious review of types of Islamists in contemporary politics... Highly recommended. - Choice

A theoretically sophisticated, culturally specific, and detailed explanation of the Makhzen institution and how the ruling dynasty has successfully made use of tradition, symbols, and ritual to maintain not merely its power, but its perceived legitimacy, in spite of secularist and - more recently - Islamist challenges. Moroccan-born and raised in a well-off family, Daadaoui came to his research with the access and intimate cultural familiarity of a native coupled with the critical, analytical eye of an American-trained social scientist. Future studies of the Moroccan monarchy, institution of governance, and politics will have to take into account Daadaoui's arguments. So too, will further theoretical discussions of the broader topics of Islamic Arab authoritarianism and its rituals of power. - Norman A. Stillman, Professor of History and Schusterman/Josey Chair, Department of History, University of Oklahoma