An alternate view of Morocco

owukori of the Black Looks blog took issue with my essay praising Morocco's King Mohammed VI's modest poverty reduction efforts. Well actually, she took issue with my characterization of Morocco as arguably the most progressive and democratic countries in the Arab world. Upon further reflection, I probably should've phrased it differently. I still contend that Mohammed VI is one of the most progressive leaders in the Arab world, even though that's not an especially high standard. owukori argues that life in rural Morocco is much different ('feudal') than in urban centers. She points to an essay of her own on the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (ERC) set up by Mohammed VI, to investigate human rights' abuses committed during the reign of Hassan II, his father. I'd still argue that the mere fact of the ERC is useful in breaking the silence that weighs so heavily in Morocco; the mere fact of acknowledging that the king's father's rule was imperfect (an enormous understatement!) is an important breach in the idea that you can never criticize the monarchy. However, I do echo her disappointment that specific individuals can not be named to the ERC, ostensibly because some of them are still in positions of power.