Can there be a developmental state in Morocco? Finding the right balance between autonomy and embeddedness

Abstract This paper draws on Peter Evans’ approach to the developmental state and applies it to examine the scope for state-society synergy at the local level in Morocco. In doing so, it highlights the usefulness of Evans’ concept of ‘embedded autonomy’ for theorizing about the developmental state. The paper studies the internal and interactive capacities of local government and local civil society organizations in Morocco. It argues that there are certain pre-conditions with regard to state capacity which enable complementarity and embeddedness to emerge. The main finding of the paper though (drawing on my extensive fieldwork in two rural municipalities in Morocco) is the high degree of political instrumentalisation that characterizes the relationships between local government and local civil society. The paper therefore aims to enrich the debate on the developmental state by emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance between autonomy and embeddedness if networks that cross the public-private divide are to lead to developmentally valuable outcomes.