Cassava Tuesdays:The Kingdom of Morocco-A King,The Kingdom &Soft Power

Trinkets from the Kingdom

Morocco has the distinctive pleasure of holding the unique title “Kingdom”. There are just two other countries known as Kingdoms: Lesotho and Swaziland. 

Capital: Rabat
Largest City: Casablanca
Languages Spoken: Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish
Religion: Islam
Currency: Dirham
Leader of the Empire: King: Mohammed VI
Prime Minister: Saad-Eddine El Othmani

just a tad bit on Soft power

By this time, you understand the definition of Soft Power and how it works. However, you understand Soft Power in our conversations is referred to as Cassava Diplomacy. I believe as the years go by, this word will continue to expand and maybe some attributes might not be part of this word, hence (...).

                                            Here is a snap shot of Cassava Diplomacy
 

.....FIRST WE MUST ADDREDSS the Arab Spring

“Oh, Shit has hit ceiling!”

— Everyone watching the Arab Spring live on every social media platform

The Arab Spring was a combination of: Change of Demographics, Human Rights Concerns, Economic Disparities, Political Reforms + Social Media......You get this PBS News Hour video aired in 2011 

“A wave of anti-government protests and uprisings that included civilians and armed militias that spread across the Middle East and North Africa in 2011”

— Water & Cassava, Formal Definition of the Arab Spring

“MOROCCO, HOW DID YOU AVOID THE WRATH OF THE ARAB SPRING??????”

Perhaps, Morocco avoided the wrath, because of the new constitution that was introduced in 2010 as a result of pressure to reform, thus giving the parliament and prime minister more powers. 

Remember, protest during the Arab Spring were surrounded on reform of (Fill in the blank), this is not to say Morocco perfected this and doesn't have some issues. However, sometimes facing your shit in the face will prevent your shit been tossed to your face. I know harsh language, recall I expressed this blog is not for your virgin ears. 

There are so many layers to this new softer image of the Kingdom, to understand that, you must read up on The African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Morocco is an Allie to the United States in the war against terrorism, but you wonder WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THEIR SOFT POWER? 

Have a seat, eat Tajine and have some tea.... 

ou must understand the importance of collaborating with powerful states as a country developing niche diplomacy in the name of Cassava Diplomacy. Through smart strategies, the Kingdom has used economic incentives, culture, education, and religion to craft a very unique soft power.

Understand that Soft Power is only as convincing and attractive, as soon as a great power supports or condones this influence, you have been so kind to toss on to the global stage. 
The United States is a "SUPERPOWER STATE" and while it pays to have friends in high places, it will take to you places far and beyond when you are friends with a country that is hegemony itself.... 

The United States with all the Hard Power has had difficulties dealing with Africa and engaging with radicalization and terrorism, a great example of this efforts "Libya".

Morocco is dealing with development and keeping the peace through promoting its own unique Soft Power by supporting the stabilization of fragile neighbors. Morocco is known for Sufism, which is considered a quite moderate version of Islam compared to the practices of neighboring countries. 

The Mohammed VI Institute was formed in 2015 with France as a partner (Global Influence) to train Imams to combat extremism and terrorism through teachings of moderation and tolerance. The Imams are men and women from Mali, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, Libya and Tunisia please read that twice.

“..Imagine an African state introducing Feminism in International Relations, yet I have yet to see a Female Pope. ”

— Water & Cassava

Morocco has applied moderation to economic and sociopolitical development in efforts to promote stabilization. 

Billions of dollars have been invested in the National Human Development Initiative by King Mohammed VI to improve the well beings of Moroccans. (Domestic Influence )

The largest investor in Ivory Coast largest is Morocco (Regional Influence), with over 22% of the companies being Moroccan. Read more on that here:
 

In the field of technology, the Kingdom started in 2015 to build the world's largest concentrated largest solar plant, read more on that here:
        

Did I mention, while the Kingdom's neighbors were experiencing destabilization and consequently less FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), the Kingdom enjoyed a profit of 11% in FDI. That will be roughly €3.6 billion, in addition to contracts signed by the king in investments worth €688.7 million with other countries throughtout the globe. Read more on this here:

Did, I mention the influence of the Kingdom with one of the newest countries in the global system, South Sudan? Read more on this here:

Now that you understand, the strategies behind the Kingdom using economic incentives, culture, education, and religion to craft soft power..... Let's speak Marrakesh

WHY IS MARRAKESH SO ATTRACTIVE TO TOURIST??

Marrakesh is exactly the fantasy travelers have of North Africa, from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara, the Souks and the beautiful terrain, it is something from a travel memoir. You can ride Camels at the entrance to the Sahara and experience the Sunset. By the way, you will never experience a sunset as that in the Sahara. Did I mention, you can see all the constellations at night in the Sahara? There is hospitality but as everywhere you visit, you will bump into interesting characters that will test your patience on cultural relativism.  

The King and his kingdom still have a long way to go with soft power, but they are making strong strides and building strong foundations with neighbors close and far and the international community. 

Ultimately the constant attraction for Marrakesh will always be hospitality and color. We all need just a bit more color in life and hospitality to deal. 

Muldays Monday- W.A.S.H

“Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: The lack of access to these interdependent three contributes to the death of millions of people with majority of victims being women and children.”

— Meaning of W.A.S.H

Hopefully, you now understand W.A.S.H. Next week, we will discuss which countries are receiving W.A.S.H assistance in Africa and Asia.  

Water & Cassava will be back on 9/11....

Discussions on....

Mul-Days 

• What is W.A.S.H?
• Why is W.A.S.H important?
• Why are women and children most vulnerable to W.A.S.H?

Cassava Tuesdays: The Kingdom of Morocco- The Tale of the King & Soft Power

• How is the Kingdom using economic incentives, culture, education, and religion to craft soft power?
• What is the draw to Marrakesh?

Public Health Wednesday: Sex, Condoms and Africa- Can’t we all just come together??

“One thing I can tell you is you got to be free”

— Our brother, John Lennon

• What are the quality of African Condoms?
• Can Africans not have sex without the interruption of their civil liberties?
• Condom Campaigns are nice but with all those rubber trees,  how many condom plants does Africa have?
• Why  must the church be the legislating body of sexual health for Africans? 

Silk Road Thursdays: Cool Japan to the rest the world, but not so cool in Africa??? 

“We ney dey hear you abi? Nah wheti be Anime??? Sushi nah lie??? ”

— Water & Cassava

• Japan is not soft or cool in Africa but why is this?

Friday Ramblings, Realities and -Isms- THE ONE ABOUT THE STORM

Rambling is defined by Webster as:

• passing from one topic to another
• using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea

Reality is defined by Webster as:

• the quality or state of being real
• a real event, entity, or state of affairs
• totality of real things and events
• something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

-Isms are just my own colloquialisms .

THE ONE ABOUT THE STORM

I am not sure just how to type this week........
I am also a native Houstonian that has worked in Public Health for 10 years. I was so numb by reading articles such as this:

I thought to myself, I just left Houston???? I just spoke to friends, but OMG are they okay? I start calling but with 14 hours or so apart? I blow up WhatApps and Facebook connections. I feel so strange in Seoul because I should be in the field. 
I see former co-workers on television and social media express the need for help and working conditions. I start to feel guilty and just so strange not be working and coordinating.. I feel so strange having no way to help my City of Houston. I am still processing the storm, I was able to get a hold of everyone that mattered. My heart goes out to those that were not so lucky with the loss of things and lives. It is not easy to rebuild, I should know that more than anyone. However the local and global community are coming together and that is the only thing that matters.

I was lucky enough to have a one on one meeting with a potential client, but I do feel defeated. I had to read this over and over

I was able to finish my second course that leaves me with just one course to submit my paperwork for a unique visa given to entrepreneurs by the government. I hope I am able to get project otherwise, I will have to move away from Seoul. This will hurt as I invested so much.......

I will try to hang in here and I hope Houstonians hang in there as well

To support my GoFundMe Campaign:

Cassava Tuesdays: BRIC by BRICK, South Africa is loosing Soft Power

WHAT or Where is the Soft Attraction to Africa?

The regional and global presence of South Africa is undeniable. The country belongs to international organizations such as the BRICS, IBSA and the G-20. Membership alone with such powerful economic giants has gained the rainbow nation middle power status and hegemonic influence in African International Relations.

Middle Power State and behavior is one thing but Soft Power...........

“It is complicated… It is always just so complicated with South Africa”

— Water & Cassava

SOFT POWER
 

The application of Soft Power by states in the global system is not limited to just the seductiveness and attractiveness of political values, culture, and policies. States must also analyze their current political sociology while synchronously developing, crafting, and nourishing their unique soft power.

The seductiveness and attractiveness of political values, culture and foreign policies of “State A” must be enjoyed by close neighbors and regional neighbors. It is after this stage, that it can go onto the global stage. Above all of this, citizens must believe and “benefit” from it, may it be what they see daily or from the overall economic health of the state.

In the event that only selected few are enjoying this soft power, the state will loose it bric by BRICK.

The  "A"  Word 

It would be extremely dismissive not to mention the Apartheid era of South Africa as I attempt to explain South Africa soft power. So before S.A could appreciate the good in bye by ending the apartheid government and becoming the rainbow nation, it was a country that existed on the application of extreme hard power to citizens and neighbors. 

“What is Hard Power? The use of military response from countries in International Relations.”

The application of military interventionism in apartheid S.A by then President Pieter Willem Botha contributed to the destabilization of spaces in the region. There was also enforcement of racial separation and complete control of social and economic interactions of the white minority population towards the colored majority.  The cost of such hard power in this portion of S.A history will put a $60 billion dent to the economy, including the lost of 2 million lives and catastrophic civil wars in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

South Africa Soft Power

Just a snap of South African Soft Power

“Show me the money.........................Wait, Show me the Rand??”

— Water & Cassava

Total trade between South Africa and the East African region in 2016 was R25.5 billion, an increase from 2015's R23.6 billion.

Foreign Direct Investment from January- March alone of this year was R15.3 billion. 

Over 10 million tourists visited the country in 2016 spending R75 billion.

Despite such profits that come from the nation's persuasive soft power, the country has slowly regressed to some familiar dark behavior. 

While there are arguments for the issues and concerns on behalf of the foreigners and the native people in South Africa, it should be noted that governance has failed both groups. 

“Ubuntu???”

Socioeconomic concerns, political factors, parliamentary drama that is simply something to watch and not explain....

..... Xenophobia, racial tension, high levels of poverty and unemployment...  Did I mention the protesting in the university sectors and mine sectors?

“Where is Ubuntu?
Be Kind and respect others......”

— (My Primary School teacher)Interpretation varies

What about Identity concerns??

English or Afrikaans??? 

Soft Power Diplomacy is what states do and not what they say or present. As, I mentioned your constituents better believe you are soft, attractive and benefit them as you wish for others to believe. These videos show a South Africa on a dangerous path of loosing "Ubuntu-Soft Power" appeal bric by brick. 

Perhaps other African middle power states can take advantage of this moment to work on their soft power status. Countries that come to mind: Nigeria, Angola, Morocco and Egypt. 

Maybe, this is also the fact that South Africa is still in the infancy stages of state growth from the ending of the apartheid movement. You can't hurry these things right? I mean look at South Korea's global soft power and then their everyday practice, it can be questionable at the very least.