Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad
In 2004, the King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced the beginning of a series of fundamental reforms of the main state religious institutions of the country. These reforms were designed to include the over 3.8 million Moroccans living in foreign countries based on the claim that they are a part of a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Mashriq & Mahjar |
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| Online Access: | https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/159 |
| _version_ | 1818212730942783488 |
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| author | Benjamin Bruce |
| author_facet | Benjamin Bruce |
| author_sort | Benjamin Bruce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In 2004, the King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced the beginning of a series of fundamental reforms of the main state religious institutions of the country. These reforms were designed to include the over 3.8 million Moroccans living in foreign countries based on the claim that they are a part of a shared transnational religious field. This article analyzes the evolution of the main diaspora policy instruments used by Morocco abroad, especially in the case of France, such as sending delegations of religious personnel during Islamic holidays, funding mosques and Islamic associations, and providing training programs for imams from other countries. I argue that these reforms should be understood as a form of diaspora politics that aims to reinforce the Moroccan state’s ability to govern the religious affairs of its citizens and their descendants abroad with the ultimate goal of maintaining control over the religious field at home.
Cover Image: The Great Mosque of Strasbourg. Image by author.
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| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:53:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b99a1ed605804ca8ae5e49eca699c706 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:53:03Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mashriq & Mahjar |
| spelling | doaj.art-b99a1ed605804ca8ae5e49eca699c7062022-12-22T00:35:37ZengNorth Carolina State University, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora StudiesMashriq & Mahjar2169-44352018-01-015110.24847/55i2018.159Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field AbroadBenjamin Bruce In 2004, the King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced the beginning of a series of fundamental reforms of the main state religious institutions of the country. These reforms were designed to include the over 3.8 million Moroccans living in foreign countries based on the claim that they are a part of a shared transnational religious field. This article analyzes the evolution of the main diaspora policy instruments used by Morocco abroad, especially in the case of France, such as sending delegations of religious personnel during Islamic holidays, funding mosques and Islamic associations, and providing training programs for imams from other countries. I argue that these reforms should be understood as a form of diaspora politics that aims to reinforce the Moroccan state’s ability to govern the religious affairs of its citizens and their descendants abroad with the ultimate goal of maintaining control over the religious field at home. Cover Image: The Great Mosque of Strasbourg. Image by author. https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/159Moroccodiaspora politicsreligious governancetransnationalismIslamFrance |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Bruce Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad Mashriq & Mahjar Morocco diaspora politics religious governance transnationalism Islam France |
| title | Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad |
| title_full | Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad |
| title_fullStr | Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad |
| title_short | Transnational Religious Governance as Diaspora Politics: Reforming the Moroccan Religious Field Abroad |
| title_sort | transnational religious governance as diaspora politics reforming the moroccan religious field abroad |
| topic | Morocco diaspora politics religious governance transnationalism Islam France |
| url | https://lebanesestudies.ojs.chass.ncsu.edu/index.php/mashriq/article/view/159 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminbruce transnationalreligiousgovernanceasdiasporapoliticsreformingthemoroccanreligiousfieldabroad |