The View From Fez

Diplomacy Undone: Rice’s Disastrous Moroccan Blunder

Diplomacy Undone: Rice’s Disastrous Moroccan Blunder

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: As the plot to a Hollywood movie it would have been thrown out as incredible. But fact beat fiction this week in Morocco

 The View From Fez

Phew! Morocco Avoids Formula One ‘Catastrophe’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: I’ve watched as Bernie Ecclestone’s F1 ‘circus’ has brought Valencia to its knees. Morocco can count its lucky stars that it will avoid the same fate

 The View From Fez

‘Major Boost’ for Moroccan English Language Media

‘Major Boost’ for Moroccan English Language Media

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The story of English language media in Morocco is not a happy one. The arrival of a new title though is cause for hope

 The View From Fez

‘Play It Again, Issam’: The Real ‘Rick’s Cafe’ Story

‘Play It Again, Issam’:  The Real ‘Rick’s Cafe’ Story

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: For 60 years visitors to Casablanca were disappointed to discover there was no ‘Rick’s Cafe’. That was until Kathy Kriger stepped in.

 The View From Fez

Blazing Skies: Moroccan Meterorite Up for Sale

Blazing Skies: Moroccan Meterorite Up for Sale

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: A perfectly intact meteorite that was ejected from Mars 700,000 years ago and landed in the Moroccan desert last year will go on sale this Sunday

 The View From Fez

Restoring the Glory of Fez: A ‘Capital Idea?’

Restoring the Glory of Fez: A ‘Capital Idea?’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: It has enjoyed a glorious past but faces a very uncertain future. There’s a case to be made for restoring Fez as Morocco’s capital city.

 The View From Fez

Asilah: The Hidden Moroccan Seaside Gem

Asilah: The Hidden Moroccan Seaside Gem

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: It doesn’t feature too highly on most tourists ‘must sees’ when they come to Morocco but it has many attractions

 The View From Fez

A Taxing Tale: Low-Cost Airlines Reject Morocco

A Taxing Tale: Low-Cost Airlines Reject Morocco

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: First it was Ryanair, now it’s Easyjet. The outlook for Morocco’s tourism industry looks grim.

 The View From Fez

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: A number of international programmes combined with improved education have led to significant improvements for Moroccan women

 The View From Fez

Well-Kept Secret: The Thriving Wine Industry of Morocco

Well-Kept Secret: The Thriving Wine Industry of Morocco

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The wine industry is going from strength to strength.

 The View From Fez

‘Picture an Arab Man’: Project’s Author Speaks

‘Picture an Arab Man’: Project’s Author Speaks

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Her photography has captured the imagination of people around the Arab world and beyond. She discusses her project.

 The View From Fez

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The mixture of sex, politics and conspiracy is a heady one. It’s sent Casablanca a-buzz.

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Quixotic?: Morocco’s Bid for the Olympics

Quixotic?: Morocco’s Bid for the Olympics

IBN WARRAQ, THE VIEW FROM FEZ: As a Moroccan one always approaches articles written about the country with trepidation…

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From Personal Disaster to Moroccan Music Pioneer

From Personal Disaster to Moroccan Music Pioneer

DEREK WORKMAN, THE VIEW FROM FEZ: What should you do once your life’s work has been destroyed? Instead of brooding Nick Wilde went to Morocco…

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Moroccan Souks Under Threat: Retail Boom Bites

Moroccan Souks Under Threat: Retail Boom Bites

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The big boys from Europe are moving aggressively into the Moroccan retail space and they’re squeezing the profit margins of souk operators.

 The View From Fez

Micro-Finance ‘major boon’ for Morocco’s Poor

Micro-Finance ‘major boon’ for Morocco’s Poor

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The recent signing of an agreement in Casablanca launching a micro-finance initiative is good news for the poor of Morocco.

 Juan Cole

‘All Very Messy’. The Top Five Crises in the Arab Spring

‘All Very Messy’. The Top Five Crises in the Arab Spring

JUAN COLE: Protestors are out on Tahrir Square again, there is a television ‘debate’ in Syria about democracy, the Americans are working on Saleh while vacillating on Libya and protestors are out on the street in Morocco. A busy week in the region then.

 Steve Royston

Middle East Blogs – Ten Sites CNN Missed

Middle East Blogs – Ten Sites CNN Missed

STEVE ROYSTON: My only quibble about CNN’s list is that it picks up exclusively on Arab writers and – with the honourable exception of Mahmood the Bahraini Blogfather – most of the writers seem relatively young.

 The View From Fez

Morocco: ‘End Corruption’ Main Demand of Demonstrators

Morocco: ‘End Corruption’ Main Demand of Demonstrators

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Though the recent demonstrations have been peaceful there is no question about the determination of those taking to the streets to effect real change in Morocco.

 Juan Cole

Of the People, By the People, For the People

Of the People, By the People, For the People

JUAN COLE: Were he alive today Rousseau would have been impressed with how his idea on ‘popular sovereignty’ has been embraced in the Middle East