كتاب "المغرب بعين سوسيو-أنتروبولوجية" يثير نقاشًا علميًا حول الدين والسلطة والتحديث في برنامج "يا مسهرني"

A new intellectual release titled “Morocco Through a Socio-Anthropological Lens: Questions of Religion, Power, and Modernization” by Dr. Mohammed Jahah has brought renewed attention to key debates حول الدين والسلطة والتحديث في المغرب. The book was featured on the radio program “Ya Msaherni” on Medina FM, where sociologist Dr. Soufiane Chehb from Moulay Ismail University offered a critical reading, shedding light on its core arguments and the broader academic discussions it has sparked. <h2>A Critical Take on Religion, Power, and Modernization</h2>The book centers on three key pillars shaping Moroccan society: religion, power, and modernization. Across eight chapters, it offers a nuanced analysis that challenges conventional interpretations.One of its central contributions is a critique of colonial-era frameworks that divided Morocco into “Bled Siba” and “Bled Makhzen,” or distinguished between “official” and “popular” Islam. According to the author, such classifications were deeply influenced by colonial agendas and continue to shape perceptions of Moroccan society. <h2>Zawiyas and the State: A Complex Relationship</h2>The book revisits the relationship between Sufi institutions (zawiyas) and political authority. Rather than portraying them as mere tools of the state, it highlights their role as independent social and symbolic actors with significant influence. <h2>The Myth of the ‘Return of Religion’</h2>Challenging a widely circulated narrative, the author argues that religion never disappeared from Moroccan society to “return” later. Instead, religious practices have remained constant, evolving in form depending on social and political contexts. <h2>Modernization: Policy or Way of Life?</h2>A key question raised by the book concerns the effectiveness of modernization in Morocco. Has it become a lived reality embedded in everyday life, or does it remain confined to institutional discourse and top-down policies? <h2>A Socio-Anthropological Approach from the Ground Up</h2>Dr. Soufiane Chehb emphasized that the book’s strength lies in its bottom-up approach, grounded in field research. It examines how ordinary people experience and practice religion and authority in daily life, Beyond abstract theorizing.. <h2>International Conference in Meknes: Cross-Fertilizing Ideas</h2>The discussion extended beyond the radio program to an academic conference held at the Faculty of Arts in Meknes, featuring international participation, including American researchers.This openness fosters dialogue between different intellectual traditions, particularly between American anthropological perspectives—represented by scholars like Clifford Geertz—and French schools of thought. Such exchanges offer Moroccan researchers new analytical tools and perspectives.The conference also adopted an interdisciplinary approach, combining sociology, anthropology, and history to better understand Morocco’s complex social dynamics. <h2>Public Engagement Encouraged</h2>The program concluded with an invitation for the public and researchers to follow the conference proceedings, either in person or via live streaming on doctoral student platforms in Meknes, promoting wider engagement with academic debates. <h2>FAQ</h2>What is the main focus of the book?It explores the interplay between religion, power, and modernization in Morocco using a socio-anthropological perspective.What makes this book different? It challenges colonial narratives and adopts a field-based, bottom-up approach to understanding Moroccan society.Where was the related academic conference held? At the Faculty of Arts in Meknes, with participation from both Moroccan and international scholars.