“Mohammed VI, a King’s Vision: Actions and Ambitions”, a new book presented in Rabat

A new book entitled “Mohammed VI, a King’s Vision: Actions and Ambitions” was presented on Wednesday in Rabat by its author Jean-Marie Heydt.

The book, emphasizing the dynamics of change initiated in various fields under the impetus of King Mohammed VI since his accession to the Throne in 1999, was presented at a meeting at the College of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in Rabat.

Heydt surveyed before the attending academics and students the topics he covered in his book which include various political, economic, and social projects and reforms and which reflect the perspective that this Franco-Swiss academic and writer holds on present-day Morocco.

Heydt, a member of the Scientific Council of the Geopolitical Studies Observatory, recalled that through his book, published on the twentieth anniversary of the King’s accession to the Throne, he wanted to shed light on Morocco’s role as a regional leader.

The author highlighted the human dimension at the core of the Sovereign’s vision, saying that the Royal speech delivered by the King on the first anniversary of his enthronement emphasized the greatness and importance of the Royal ambitions for the Moroccans.

“Twenty years later, the result is there,” he stated, noting that the numerous achievements over the past two decades draw their essence from the initial speeches given by the Sovereign, who paved the way for the Kingdom’s development.

In the span of two decades, Morocco has become an international center of interest, Heydt pointed out.

For his part, the director of Cooperation and Partnership Department at the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad, Fouad Benmakhlouf, highlighted Heydt’s work on the economic, social, and environmental developments in Morocco.

This work, tracing Morocco’s evolution under the reign of King Mohammed VI, has been presented at several Moroccan universities, including Mohammed I University in Oujda, Hassan II University in Ain Chock-Casablanca, and Mohammed V University in Rabat, he noted.

Benmakhlouf said that Heydt plans to publish a new work in 2024 on the progress made in the Southern provinces of Morocco, following research that will continue until December 21.

The eight chapters of the 181-page book cover “social reforms”; “advanced regionalization”; “prelude to advanced status”; “operational phase”; “economic achievements”; “major projects”, and “Morocco and its international environment.”

A Doctor in Comparative Education Sciences from the University of Lyon and a graduate in European Political Studies from the University of Paris, Heydt is a university professor, associate researcher at the Center for Migration Studies at Mohammed I University in Oujda, and member of the Center for Strategic Studies and Prospective. The author has also chaired the Executive Committee of the North-South Center of the Council of Europe in Lisbon.