Abdellah El Haddad is a well-known historian who has made significant contributions to the study of Moroccan history. His latest publication focuses on the reformist project in Morocco between 1830 and 1912, shedding light on the intellectual elite who played a crucial role in shaping the country’s modernization efforts.
This work is part of the documentary publications for the year 2023 by the High Commission for Former Resistance Fighters and Former Members of the Liberation Army, aimed at supporting historical research efforts to enrich the national memory. According to a presentation note by the High Commission, the objective of this new publication is to highlight the specificity of the modernizing reformist discourse in Morocco, considering that the intellectual productions of the Moroccan elite, known as « Ahl al hal wal-‘akd », were influenced by three factors.
The first factor is the internal situation of Morocco, followed by interactions with the Western European world, and finally, openness to the experiences and projects of the elite in the Eastern Arab world. To elucidate the subject and explore its details, the author has divided his research into seven chapters.
The first chapter discusses the concept of reform, its contexts, and meanings within the Arab-Muslim cultural framework. The second chapter examines the Moroccan intellectual elite in terms of education, while the third focuses on the productions of the intellectual elite, their genres, and classifications.
In the fourth chapter, the researcher delves into examples of projects presented by the Moroccan intellectual elite and the contexts that led to these projects. The fifth chapter is dedicated to the study of economic and financial reform projects, while the sixth addresses administrative and political reform during this period.
The seventh chapter offers a comparative study of the Eastern elite’s vision on reform projects and that of the Moroccan elite, particularly in the field of education. With its solid scientific and documentary content, this academic work serves as an essential reference for research on the history of reformist thought in Morocco during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Abdellah El Haddad’s publication is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the intellectual movements that shaped Morocco’s trajectory towards modernization. By examining the reformist project in the country during the specified period, El Haddad offers insights into the complex interplay of internal dynamics, external influences, and the aspirations of the Moroccan elite towards progress and development. This work is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Morocco and the evolution of its intellectual landscape.
