State-Business Relations in Morocco

Civil Society in West Asia Working Paper Series: Working Paper 6

Tags: Civil Society in West Asia

Working Paper 6 studies how the relationship between the state and the business community in Morocco has changed over the past two decades. Recent scholarship by social scientists on political change in the Middle East and North Africa has mostly focused on civil society. Relatively less attention has been paid to the role of business associations. Given the more prominent role for the private sector in a market economy it is of interest to examine how the relationship between the state and the business community has changed in Morocco. The focus will be on the peak-business association operating in Morocco, Confédération Générale des Enterprises du Maroc (CGEM). Of particular interest are its historical evolution, ties with the state, and with business groups.