Further more, Morocco is charaterised by (a growing) social inequality, low scores on the Human Development Index, analfabetism and a low employment rate, especially between the highly educated. That's where I saw the only protest of 100-200 people. There's totally no stimulus to go study. A son, working from the age of 7 as a shepherd, will be better of than a high-educated son, who will probably be unemployed and poor at the age of 20.
Up to field research. Interesting detail, the ministery of the exterior in Belgium (the one still in function..) recommands not to talk or go in discussion with people about the current political situation. Makes it even more tempty to do so!
When arriving in the country of 1001 nights, I immediately had to put some prejudgements aside. Besides the other arabian countries, Morocco is doing 'quite well' on the position of women. There are young girls on the streets, during nights, wearing western cloothes (eventhough I don't know if that is a good thing..) and no headscarfes. You can find women in all sorts of jobs (in the city though).
While travelling around, you can really see that Morocco is moving. Since a few years, there's a new king, Mohammed VI and he adheres to a policy of reforms. Everywhere you see building projects, decent infrastructure,... Also a lot of police for the control of the 'paper of the car'. But are these reforms enough for the people of Morocco? And are they to improve the life of the growing level of tourists or are they to improve the lives of the people of Morocco? Apparently, Morocco needs more change.
So, as to see my 'field research', I would prospect no immediate revolution. I read some things about 'the march of love' on february, 20 (today) but I only found one source. Apparently that source was right! If I would prospect some conflicts, it would more be between the Berbers and the Arabs, because the Berbers still don't have the same rights while they are the biggest part of the population. As well, I would expect some protests of the side of the higher educated. Seen the recent evolutions, people are giving critics on the king and not only on his political course. Things are moving. Most Moroccons are young (-26) and they are apparently not immediately believe everything that they have been told.
There's agriculture, a lot of resources like gold, silver, phosphor,sulfate, tourism, .. Morocco certainly has the possibility to be a rich country and some appropriate policy mesures . But why is it not a rich country? Why is there still so much poverty? Why are they still working like hell to get nothing? A reason of our 'local guide' would be that the borders in the Sahara are still not clear, so there's a lot of money going to defence on those borders. These days, there are people coming on the streets in Rabat and Casablanca, economically and politically the most important cities. Apparently, the improvements were not enough.
'It's not our task to predict the future. It's ours to make it possible.'
