During the review period, Morocco’s political development under King Mohammed VI focused more on enhancing international reputation and national prestige than on political opening or inclusive reforms. Football, portraying a modern and dynamic image abroad, and the Western Sahara served as key instruments of state-led symbolism to mobilize national unity. At the same time, the monarchy consolidated its control over domestic and foreign policy, while security forces and intelligence services gained greater influence over political decision-making.
Economically, Morocco made incremental progress in infrastructure development and economic diversification, particularly in renewable energy and tourism. However, these advances fell short of fostering inclusive growth. High unemployment, especially among youth, rising social inequality, and increasing prices combined with stagnant wages continued to strain household purchasing power across broad segments of the population.
Political authority remains strongly top-down. The king’s reduced public presence strengthened the role of the inner power circle and security services in steering state affairs. Measures such as the royal pardon of journalists primarily served international image management rather than signaling broader reform. In foreign policy, the Western Sahara issue remained a central mobilizing factor, while the normalization of relations with Israel deepened domestic polarization.
