Fifty-two masters students from Sciences Po Paris’ “Governing the Large Metropolis” (GLM) graduate program visited the metropolitan region of Casablanca-Rabat-Salé in Morocco, from 11 to 17 January 2015.
The trip aimed at understanding the metropolitan development of Casablanca, and its links with Rabat. How is this process of metropolization governed, by whom, and with which kind of outcomes? What are the priorities in terms of infrastructural policies? What is not governed? What is the role of flows and networks of individuals between the two cities? What is the balance between competition and cooperation between the two centers? Is the process led only by infrastructural policies or also by cultural and social policies (namely around problems of housing in the broad metropolitan region)?
During the study trip, students tried to answer these questions. They asked questions, and tried to grasp the composition of the coalition of actors and interests within the two cities, the cost and financing schemes of metropolitan policies, as well as the relationship between the Moroccan State, the administrative capital city of Rabat, and Casablanca—the main economic center. They examined the coordinating instruments of the different administrative bodies, and the overlapping of private and public agencies involved in the regulation of emerging policies at the metropolitan scale.
The study trip report takes the form of an illustrated e-book with analysis, data, interviews and impressions, maps and charts. It can be downloaded here. The Table of Contents is listed below.
Table of Contents:
Editorial Note
Chapter 1: Rabat and Casablanca in Context
Understanding Institutions and Urban Governance in Morocco
Valentin Dubois, Roberto Lopez
Rabat and Casablanca: Developing Together or Developing Apart?
Kwame Boye Frimpong, Marissa Potasiak, Naomi Fagla Médégan, Mikhail Ermac
Chapter 2: Striving for International Outreach
A Maritime Interface
Arthur Simon, Sofia Morgavi, Alex Aung Khant, Adélaïde de Couëssin
On Casablanca and Rabat’s Entrepreneurial Urban Governance: Mega-Projects for Whom?
Lorena Figuereido, JitkaMolnárová. Perrine Chauliac
Political Language: Two Tales of Morocco
Marie Pla, Clarissa Pelino
The Role of International Organizations in Local Projects
Danlu Chen
The Role of French Institutions in the Moroccan Economy
Laura Grelet, Alexandre Reznikow, Gaëtan Müller
Chapter 3: Land-Use at the Heart of Power Relations
Land Ownership and Power Relations: Legal Structure of Use and Abuse
Ivan Márquez, Alberto Garcia Picazo, Leire Irigoyen, Sofia Ramos Díaz
The Bouregreg Valley and Mega Projects in the Urbanization of Moroccan Cities
Josephine Hébert, Emeline Dutheil
Collective Lands Threatened by Current Politics of Urbanization
Elise Roy, Suzanne Spooner
Chapter 4: Development Choices and the Urban Poor
Governing the Informal
Lou D’Angelo, Catalina Ramirez Palau
The Governance of Poverty in Rabat
Mireia Lozano
Safety Valves for a Contested Metropolization
Paul Tristan Victor, Elsa Cardona
Chapter 5: Cultural Factors at Stake in the Metropolitzation Processes
Cultural Policy and Governance
Daniela Pascual, Clementine Chazal, Lisa Gerbal, Camille Lavoipierre
Cultural Heritage in the Context of Economic Development
Melina Spiga, Charlie Mitchell, Juliette Delaveau, Clara Lange
Stripping the Study Trip
Massimo Hulot, Simon Chabas
Conclusion
Looking at Casablanca and Rabat Beyond the Contractual
Côme Salvaire
[The students of the Master “Governing the Large Metropolis (GLM), Sciences Po Paris, prepared this report.]