How Much We Need New Morrisons!
By Najiba Jalal
In American history, much like in the histories of living nations, there are men who did not wield a rifle, yet were on the frontlines. Among these is Robert Morris, known not only as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States but also as the financier of the revolution that changed the course of the world.
Morris, of English descent but American in allegiance, was one of the few who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, as well as the Constitution of the United States. More importantly, he served as the financial supervisor of the young nation from 1781 to 1784, during one of its darkest periods: the War of Independence against the British Empire.
Historians dubbed him the “Financier of the Revolution” because he went beyond mere slogans; he funded the revolution from his own pocket, mobilized resources, managed expenditures, and saved the country from bankruptcy.
He understood, with exceptional insight, that there is no freedom without financial independence, and no financial independence without bold national investment that ties capital to the fate of the nation, not to individual interests.
When I stood before his statue during my recent visit, a pressing question crossed my mind: how much do we today need new Morrisons?
In Morocco, as in other Global South countries, we are not short of projects or plans. The state plays its role in launching major strategies, providing infrastructure, and opening avenues for promising international partnerships. However, achieving a true economic revival remains contingent on the extent of national capital’s engagement in the collective project.
We need national investors like Morris: those who do not view their homeland merely as a market or a speculation ground, but as a space for innovation, job creation, manufacturing, and building shared wealth. We need those who believe that money is a message, and that profit does not contradict serving the public good, but is realized through it.
It is time to shift from a mentality of rent-seeking and speculation to one of partnership in building a strong, economically independent Morocco that can withstand crises. Sovereignty cannot be imported, and revolutions cannot be exported; nations are built by men who believe that money that does not serve the nation… is a burden on the nation.
Robert Morris was neither a saint nor an idealist, but he was a patriot in the deep, practical sense. History has taught us that building sometimes requires the courage of the investor more than the zeal of the revolutionary.
So, do we today have those who will leave their mark in history, as Morris did, not just with ink but through responsible financing, productive investment, and deep faith in their country’s future?
