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Casablanca Hosts Intellectual Meeting to Discuss the Book “Morocco-Algeria: Brotherhood in Need of Reconstruction” by Arab Barkach
The cultural center of the Red Crescent in Casablanca hosted an intellectual and cultural meeting on Wednesday evening, February 12, 2026, dedicated to discussing the book “Morocco-Algeria: Brotherhood in Need of Reconstruction” by Moroccan thinker Arab Barkach. The event was moderated by journalist Najiba Jalal, director of the Express TV website, and saw a notable attendance of cultural activists and those concerned with Maghreb issues.
This gathering was not a transient celebratory occasion but a moment of critical reflection on the course of Moroccan-Algerian relations, focusing on the accumulated tensions and misunderstandings, away from rhetoric and ready-made slogans.
In his presentation, Arab Barkach highlighted what he views as a major flaw in the relationship between the two countries: the absence of direct dialogue with Algerian society for decades, leaving the field open to official and media discourse that fueled animosity and entrenched stereotypes about Morocco and Moroccans. He pointed out that this narrative has reached the point of dehumanizing the “other,” describing the Moroccan state as a traditional or “outdated” entity while attempting to create an artificial divide between the Moroccan people and their historical institutions.
However, the author did not overlook signs of hope, affirming that direct human contact, when it occurs, reveals the falsity of these images. He recalled instances of encounters between Moroccan and Algerian fans during international sporting events, where it became evident that the ordinary citizen does not view their neighbor as an enemy, before political calculations and collective emotions reignite tensions anew.
Barkach analytically touched upon the significant choices that have marked the path of each country since the 1960s. According to his reading, Morocco chose economic liberalism early on, even if political reforms lagged, which gradually led to the establishment of institutions that gained a degree of legitimacy, especially with the experience of governmental alternation in the late 1990s.
In contrast, the writer argues that Algeria remained hostage to a closed economic model based on nationalization and limited individual initiative, reflecting on the structure of the state and society and delaying the formation of widely accepted institutions. This structural difference, in his opinion, explains much of the divergence in visions and political behavior between the two countries.
The Green March received significant attention in the discussion, with Barkach considering it a foundational moment in modern Moroccan history, not only for its political success but for the profound transformation it brought to the collective consciousness of Moroccans. He described it as a national exercise in self-confidence and the ability to manage major logistical and organizational projects, leaving a lasting impact on future crisis management and strategic projects.
He noted that this event contributed to internal unity and strengthened the relationship between the monarchy and political forces, including those that had previously been at odds with the royal institution, providing Morocco with a degree of stability and continuity.
In discussing the future, Barkach emphasized that the ongoing rift between Morocco and Algeria costs both countries dearly, estimating annual losses between 1.5% and 2% of growth. He reminded attendees that a common Maghreb market comprising around one hundred million people could unleash an unprecedented developmental dynamic, especially benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises.
He also called for moving beyond marginal identity conflicts and mutual recognition of each country’s cultural heritage, asserting that culture and joint economic projects could create a rational entry point for rebuilding trust, far removed from language of betrayal and escalation.
In concluding the meeting, Arab Barkach expressed gratitude to the Moroccan Red Crescent and journalist Najiba Jalal, emphasizing that his book is neither a political manifesto nor a document of condemnation, but rather a space for calm discussion about the future of Moroccan-Algerian relations. He stressed the urgent need to restore the importance of reading and serious public dialogue in an era dominated by superficial discourses in the digital space.
