Morocco’s Decentralization Experience, in: The Dynamics of Decentralization in the MENA: Processes, Outcomes, and Obstacles

This paper will review the primary drivers and phases of the decentralization process at the municipal level in Morocco, outline the challenges encountered, and present some potential solutions. The paper argues that, throughout its history, the main driver of decentralization reform is the monarchy, due to the perceived political advantages in shoring up its legitimacy and power base. This also means that the “challenges” pointed out by scholars and policy makers could be considered “design features” of the reforms, allowing the monarchy to calibrate reforms according to current political expediencies. Consequently, what could be viewed as “strategies” to address the challenges in fact constitute cosmetic changes, rather than genuine attempts at reform.4