Young Authority: Quantitative and Qualitative Insights into Youth, Youth Culture, and State Power in Contemporary Morocco

Abstract

This article presents the results of a quantitative survey among 622 young Moroccans in 2003/04 on concepts of legitimacy under Mohammed VI. The article regards itself as a contribution to the debate about authoritarianism in the Middle East and the production of social consent in Muslim states. It explores changing state-society relations with quantitative as well as qualitative means. The findings show that traditional sources of legitimacy are declining whereas modern rationales and a 'youthful sprit' rise as reasons for accepting the young king's authority. The habitus of youth needs to be regarded as a major contributing element to the stability of the Moroccan monarchy today. The results show clearly that processes of political modernisation and democratisation are more crucial to women than men.

The adoption of youth quotas after the Arab uprisings

“…None of these studies elaborates more on the Moroccan youth quota, though. Although a broad literature on Moroccan youth's activism before and during the Arab spring does exist (Desrues 2012;Hegasy 2007;Zerhouni and Akesbi 2016), youth are primarily seen as activists outside the political sphere and the youth quota is seldom scrutinized.…”

Beyond marginalization: youth street groups in Northern Africa

“…Do these groups have the level of legitimacy that would allow them to play this role? (Hegasy, 2007). The neighbourhood now is transforming from a shantytown into an area populated by affordable social housing buildings.…”

Street Youth Groups in Sidi Moussa/Morocco: The Everyday Resistance of Precariousness

“…How to give voice to these young, marginalized youth considered a threat to the normalcy of society (Hegasy, 2007;Mouna et al, 2017). In his 1994 book, Michael Hanne argues that, "to tell a previously untold story is an act which can be extraordinarily disruptive to the existing social order…telling untold stories may, in certain circumstances positively empower oppressed people and diminish the offensive power of their oppressors" (12-13).…”