MESA Banner
Embracing the State as a Mystic: The Boutchichi Saint and the Moroccan King
Abstract
This paper starts with a historical sketch of the instances in Moroccan history where the saint acted as the ally- if not the agent- of the Sultan. The reasons of such alliances will be clarified, in order to fully grasp the genealogy of the current honeymoon between the Moroccan monarchy and the Sufi Boutchichi order headed by Sheikh Hamza. The Politicization of the order manifested in three instances: the nomination of one of its disciples as the minister of religious affairs, the nomination of the Guru’s son as a governor of the province of Berkane, and the call made by Sheikh Hamza to all Moroccans to rally behind the king Mohamed VI. Is the Boutchichi order acting as a politically acquiescent movement? Is it redefining political action outside of the avenues of classical protest? This paper tries to address these issues following several years of participant observation and a statistical survey in Morocco.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
Morocco
Sub Area
Mysticism/Sufi Studies