TETOUAN'S SUMMER UNIVERSITY: PERSPECTIVES ON IMAGE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 001430

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MO
SUBJECT: TETOUAN'S SUMMER UNIVERSITY: PERSPECTIVES ON IMAGE
AND ISLAM

REF: A. RABAT 01412

B. RABAT 01105

C. RABAT 01371


1. (U) Summary: The Tetouan summer university
(conference),held July 13 through 15, focused on reforms in
Morocco and was attended by a variety of students,
professors, and civil society representatives. Polfsn
political specialist also attended the conference. This
cable summarizes the views expressed by the conference
attendees on so-called "populist" Islam, including its role
in society in general and specifically in the developing
political life of the country. Morocco has created an image
of itself as modern, pro-Western, and capable of blending
traditional Islamic culture with the needs of a secular
society. Abdallah Saaf, Director of the Center for Social
Studies, which sponsored the conference, referred to this
image creation as "adaptive modernization." The discussions
about Islam and political life were lively as participants
debated their understanding of Islamist movements in Morocco.
End Summary.

--------------
Images of Morocco
--------------


2. (U) Driss Allam, a political scientist at Hassan II
University in Casablanca, emphasized that Morocco has created
an image of itself as tolerant, understanding and acting with
moderation both domestically and internationally. He
continued by saying that it is Morocco's contacts with
Europe, historically and in the present, which help to make
it appear "civilized" and make it a tourist destination. The
social harmony in Morocco coupled with it's "secret" contacts
with Israel and its long history of tolerance of Jews
insulate Morocco from radicalism and Islamic extremism,
according to Allam. Allam and other participants interpret
the merging of religious and secular leadership in the king
as a rejection of violent confrontation and anchoring
"political legitimacy in compromise, cooperation and
consensus."


3. (U) While Allam viewed Morocco as being integrated with
the West, other participants said that Moroccans hate the
West, as evidenced by the popular demonstration held in Rabat
in April 2005. The demonstration, ostensibly to support the
Palestinians, was allowed to be held, according to some
participants, to enable the population to rid itself of anger
about the inconsistencies in Morocco. These participants
identified the lack of economic development, underage
workers, and widespread illiteracy as contradicting the image
Allam portrayed.


4. (U) Other participants noted that there is a difference
between image and reality, which they called a "gap." Some
of the participants said that the current generation of young
adults has grown up on broken promises, false hopes,
unrealistic expectations, cultural uncertainty and political
manipulation. Some of the panelists thought that, if the
gap between the image of Morocco and the reality widens,
there might be a risk of political violence. These panelists
identified the conditions which intensify the gap as:
economic problems, malaise among the unemployed youth living
in poor conditions, and few prospects of finding employment
for those with high school and university degrees.


5. (U) Conference participants said that despite evidence
of democratization, the Moroccan "ruling class" promulgates a
culture of cynicism, contempt and corruption. Some
participants thought that this promulgation influences the
attitudes and political behavior of people for whom education
is just a means to advance their own interests and increase
their personal status and privileges. This situation leaves,
participants said, those who do not have the same advantages,
with two options: leaving Morocco or joining an "underground
economy."

--------------
Political Parties and Islam
--------------


6. (U) Student participants understood the 2002
parliamentary elections as part of an ongoing democratization
process. But, according to the students, the most
representative group for the population is the Justice and
Charity Organization (JCO) and it was not represented in the

RABAT 00001430 002 OF 002


elections (reftels B, C). According to panelists, the
Islamists, who come from both well-educated and uneducated
backgrounds, are the exception to Morocco's political
cynicism. Islamists are politically active and seek to
accomplish change through Islam, which represents the first
serious break with Morocco's past because Islamists reject
many of the core values promoted by their predecessors.


7. (U) Several panelists argued that, unlike earlier
generations, today's Islamists understand political
realities. Sheikh Yassine, the spiritual leader of the JCO,
has a clear message, according to the panelists: politics
articulates populist aspirations in a socially coherent and
culturally sensitive way. The Islamists, they pointed out,
cut across generations, classes, gender, and regions to
create an alternative program that challenges the political
status quo. In addition, according to the panelists, the
Islamists demonstrate a level of political conviction,
purpose and activism that earns them respect. For some
participants, the Islamists have clearly defined the "terms
of engagement" which others must acknowledge and to which
they must respond. Some participants pointed out that the
details of Islamist programs are vague, but they are capable
of mobilizing people.


8. (U) The Party of Justice and Development (PJD) was the
only one identifying itself as Islamist that participated in
the 2002 elections. It does not, however, according to
participants, command the respect of the JCO. Participants
identified respect for the JCO as emanating from its leader
as much as from its ideology. Yassine argues for an "Islamic
democracy" and the JCO provides many with "hope for change,"
the conference participants argued.

******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

RILEY