Morocco: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges

by Marvine Howe

Overview

In Morocco, Marvine Howe, a former correspondent for The New York Times, presents an incisive and comprehensive review of the Moroccan kingdom and its people, past and present. She provides a vivid and frank portrait of late King Hassan, whom she knew personally and credits with laying the foundations of a modern, pro-Western state and analyzes the pressures his successor, King Mohammed VI has come under to transform the autocratic monarchy into a full-fledged democracy. Howe addresses emerging issues and problems—equal rights for women, elimination of corruption and correction of glaring economic and social disparities—and asks the fundamental question: can this ancient Muslim kingdom embrace western democracy in an era of deepening divisions between the Islamic world and the West?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195169638
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/30/2005
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.46(h) x 1.36(d)

About the Author

Marvine Howe, who has reported for The New York Times from Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Balkans, began her career as a free-lance journalist in North Africa. Her first book The Prince and I was about the Moroccan independence movement. Her latest book was Turkey Today: A Nation Divided over Islam's Revival. She lives in Lexington, Virginia, works out of Oeiras, Portugal, and travels frequently in the Islamic world.

Table of Contents

Part One: Return to Morocco1. Commander of the Faithful2. Tour du MarocPart Two: The Ever-Present Past3. Protectors, Wards, and Rebels4. The Long Shadow of King Hassan IIPart Three: Society in Motion5. Islamic Revival6. The Conflicting Worlds of Women7. Split Identity8. Grappling with MiragesPart Four: Royal Democracy9. Zigzags on the Road to Democracy10. The New Society11. Saharan Imbroglio12. Friends, Neighbors and Others13. Kingdom at the CrossroadsEpilogue: The ChallengesNotesBibliographyGlossaryIndex

Editorial Reviews

"Here we have a bird's-eye view of Morocco today as seen through the eyes of a seasoned reporter who has had a long love affair with the country. Her first-hand account of the early days of nationhood when Morocco's destiny hung in the balance is especially absorbing and well worth the retelling."—Susan Gilson Miller, Director of Moroccan Studies, Harvard University

"This is a very special book and everyone who is going to Morocco or is seriously interested in that country should have it. Clearly written, it combines a traveler's description of the country with a historical and contemporary review. It focuses on the opportunities and dilemmas facing King Muhammad VI as he seeks to modernize and democratize Morocco in the face of long standing economic and social problems, rising Islamist influence and concerns about international terrorism. An established journalist, Marvine Howe has been covering Morocco since the early 1950s and knows almost everyone of political importance. She provides a rare view of both the underside and the surface of Moroccan politics today."—Richard B. Parker, Former Ambassador to Morocco

"Morocco is an intriguing, culturally complex country that's become a focal point in the contest between democracy and Islamic terrorism. Marvine Howe has a longstanding, intimate knowledge of the country. Here, she shares her insights into the lives and thoughts of a broad sampling of its 30 million people—women's rights activists, veteran politicians, Amazigh (Berber) educators, hard-pressed slum-dwellers, Muslim association leaders, and more. Howe's illuminating tour reveals the continued ossification of the country's political system—but also, surprises such as the relative liveliness of its NGO sector."—Helena Cobban, Columnist, The Christian Science Monitor

From the Publisher