ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an analysis of some of Morocco's diverse Islamic activist movements and examines the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to their rise. It focuses primarily on Harakat al-Islah wa al-Tajdid al-Maghribiyya and al-'Adl wa al-Ihsan as the two movements that have captured larger followings and enjoy more influence. The chapter addresses nature, objectives, and evolution of these groups and analyzes their social composition, organizational structures, and relations with the regime. Morocco is dominated by a small, yet fragmented, political elite who come from wealthy and prominent families. Morocco's economy is based on a free enterprise and private ownership system, notwithstanding a high degree of government intervention and state control. The Association of Islamic Resurrection was founded at the beginning of the 1970s by Isma'il al-Khatib. Al-Khatib, a religious scholar, has been a member of the League of Moroccan Scholars since 1968.
