Culture and Counterculture in Moroccan Politics

Culture and politics in Morocco are an interactive blend of conflict and congruence. John P. Entelis argues that no single form defines Morocco’s national identity and identifies four cultural patterns - monarchal, modernist, militarist and messianic - that compete with each other yet share strong ties to an overriding cultural core of Muslim consensus . This consensus explains much of the country’s success in reconciling cultural differences in a relatively non-violent manner and in creating a pluralistic, open, and populist society. Entelis argues that Morocco, at a critical juncture in its postindependence history, may be able to overcome challenges from international pressures and socioeconomic problems because of its cultural harmony.