Morocco

Marina Ottaway, Meredith Riley, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Political reform in the Arab world is a top priority in U.S. foreign policy and Morocco is often held up as an example of a country successfully moving toward democracy under the guidance of an enlightened monarch. For over a decade, the Moroccan monarchy has embraced a reformist agenda. As impressive as some of the reforms undoubtedly are, the missing piece -- political reform -- consistently ensures that there is no threat to the ultimate power of the king. This paper discusses the necessary steps toward creating a truly democratic political system.