Customer Reviews

State, Society and Democracy in Morocco: The Limits of Associative Life

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I think some of the reviewers on this page miss the fact that this book was published in 1998 and considers a time in Morocco before substantial access to foreign media broadcasts, the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter. One hopes Dr. Layachi will soon update his publication to consider these factors, some of which were rightly noticed by another reviewer here. This particular edition is still valuable for its concise historical overview of post-Independence Moroccan politics, including who the political parties are and their platforms. Again, read it like a historical text explaining what the political scene was like before King Hassan II died and Muhammed VI took over and I think you'll like it. I sure did.

...an interesting book and worth having in any library. However, those with experience and knowledge of Moroccan internal matters may find this work more of a useful reference document than a thought provoking look at current affairs. As a life-long student of the region I would have enjoyed more detail(s) on the Makhzen. Likewise, there are other factors at play in Morocco that warrant examination, most notably, access to foreign media broadcasts and the internet. I would opine that these new elements in the internal equation are moving that society in unpredictable directions. I look forward to Azzedine Layachi's next work and hope that he'll provide more insights into the country and region.

This guy Knows nothing about what he writes about. He is inept in his writtings simular to his teachings. Don't waste your time buying this one. I read it and got NO HELP with using it. You are better off getting an World Reference book about the Middle East.

I own this book, I bought it as a refrence for a term report, I did not enjoy reading it at all. I needed to write a report for class on Morocco, I have family that lives in that country and I wanted to do research on Morocco due to that interest. I was dissapointed with this book. It drags on and on, and you cant see where the author is going with his point of view.

This is another one of those acdemic type of books that your professor forces you to read for class that is absolutely dull. The author seems to go no where with the point they are trying to make and it drones on and on until the end, when you finally realize you have gone no where reading this book. I would not recommend this book for serious studies of North Africa.

Dear page Manager,

I am the auhor of this book:

State, Society and Democracy in Morocco: The Limits of Associative Life

I did not see on your page a summary on the book and an "About the Author" section. I would like to suggest the following text for these two sections, in the hope that they will help the sale of the book.

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BOOK SUMMARY: This focuses on the nature and place of civil society in Moroccan political, economic and cultural spheres. Political Scientist Azzedine Layachi was inspired by questions about the notion of civil society, about its relation to the idea of the state, and about the theoretical and empirical usefulness of these constructs in the case of Morocco. In examining the role of independently mobilized social forces in the process of making binding decisions for Moroccan society, he finds two paradoxes. In spite of the perennial existence of an active associative life there is no Moroccan civil society by his definition. The second paradox is that Morocco has enjoyed relative political stability for more than two decades despite serious social and economic stresses.

He analyzes these paradoxes through a detailed look at the role of independently mobilized societal forces in Morocco and examines several questions. Why has Morocco's long experience with political pluralism not given birth to a viable and vibrant civil society that could limit the over extension of the powers of the state and the monarchy? Is "civil society" a useful analytical notion for the case of Morocco? Is democratization feasible in the context of Morocco's current power structure and socio-political reality? Can the Moroccan state withstand the forces of political liberalization that may result from the economic changes resulting from structural adjustment?

[Please edit as necessary to fit your page guidelines]

About the Author AZZEDINE LAYACHI is Associate Professor of Politics at St. John's University, New York, where he teaches Politics. In addition to his writing on the Middle East and North Africa, he has made numerous radio, television, seminar and international conference appearances. He received a Ph.D. and Master's Degree in Politics from New York University.

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Thank you. I hope this will help marketing this book.

Azzedine Layachi