Morocco

Morocco is a country on the western edge of North Africa (or as some would claim, it is the westernmost country of the Middle East). It has an area of 172,413 square miles and a population of [Page 1168]30.7 million (2005 estimate). Currently, the capital of the country is Rabat, although there are three other “imperial” cities—Marrakech, Fes, and Meknès—that have also served as capitals. Morocco is bordered by Algeria, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. To the south is the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Although claimed by Morocco, the international community does not recognize Western Sahara as part of Morocco.

Three mountain ranges dominate Morocco: the Atlas, the Anti-Atlas, and the Rif. These mountains collectively influence weather patterns coming off the Atlantic Ocean and channel surface rainwater back into Morocco. On the eastern side of the Atlas Mountains, the desert environment of the Sahara predominates. This phenomenon has frequently given rise to a comparison of Morocco with California; Morocco has many, though not all, of the agricultural possibilities of that state.

The population is frequently classified as Arab/Berber although the two groups are not as intermixed as that label might appear. The official language of Morocco is Arabic, but there are also many Berber dialects spoken in the mountains and the south especially. French is also a widely used second language. Religiously, the overwhelming majority of the population is Sunni Muslim. The once large Jewish minority has mostly left for Israel and other destinations.

Historically, the earliest inhabitants were Berbers, but Morocco also had a strong Roman presence. The Arabs conquered the area in the late 17th century. After Moroccan independence in 788, a succession of dynasties ruled Morocco, including the Almoravids and Almohads who ruled both Spain and Morocco. King Mohammed VI is the latest monarch of the Alouite Dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since the mid-17th century. Morocco was also a French protectorate in the early 20th century, which heavily impacted development and gave Morocco its unique urban flavor of old medinas set next to French-inspired villes nouvelles.

Morocco's economy is heavily dependent on agricultural production, especially for the lucrative European market. Many areas grow high value, water intensive crops like tomatoes, melons, and cut flowers for export. Over the past three decades, the Moroccan government has spent a substantial amount of their capital expanding agriculture both in places that have historically concentrated on agri [Page 1169]culture, such as Marrakech, and in new areas, such as around the southern city of Agadir, where aquifers have been accessed. Environmental problems have resulted as saltwater intrusion has increased and the government has been forced to spend more money on protecting, and where possible, augmenting flow back into aquifers.

Service industry jobs employ roughly the same amount of the population as agriculture with industry employing only about a quarter of the amount of people as either of those two sectors. Unemployment remains high and has fueled migration of Moroccans to Europe, particularly to France and Belgium. Unemployment has also created dissatisfaction with the government and a minority Islamist presence has emerged in recent years.

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