Notre ami le roi

Notre ami le roi (Our Friend the King) is a book written by Gilles Perrault in 1990. Its subject is King Hassan II of Morocco. Perault's stated goal was to show that the modern, democratic facade of Morocco hid a brutal dictatorship. Notre ami le roi is not a biography.

Notre ami le roi
AuthorGilles Perrault
PublisherÉditions Gallimard
Publication date
1990
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages384

Reception

Notre Ami le Roi caused a scandal in France. At its appearance King Hassan II demanded that it be banned - without success, although in similar cases the French government had shown itself open to the wishes of friendly leaders. Perrault addressed a French readership. "Our friend" means a friend of France.

He notes few sources, and no bibliography or references are included. Perrault shows his expertise, his analytical skills and his commitment to the oppressed.[1][2]

Content

The focus of the book is the representation of the Moroccan power system, especially the political repression and power struggles within the elite.

Outline of Moroccan history

Perrault begins with an outline of Moroccan history, colonial times and the liberation struggle. He describes the background of the conflict over Western Sahara, the power of French banks and corporations in Morocco, the development of the opposition and the uprisings of the impoverished urban population.

In 1990 Hassan II confessed to an Amnesty International delegation, "Every head of state, has its secret gardens".

Political prisoners

Perrault investigates the fate of individual political prisoners that could be reconstructed from source material.

Oufkir family

For example, the Oufkir family was imprisoned for 18 years solely for its relationship with General Mohamed Oufkir. Until 1972 Oufkir was the strongman of the regime. He shot himself with four bullets, according to official Moroccan statements, after his participation in a coup attempt against Hassan II.

Abraham Serfaty

Abraham Serfaty was a Communist of Jewish descent and one of the few who questioned the Moroccan claim to Western Sahara.

Bourgeois juridical system / pharaonic power

Perrault demonstrates the character, mode of action, and goals of the repressive system. In Morocco, "two regimes coexist, as opposite as day and night" Thus there exists a "juridical system organized according to the norms of bourgeois democracy", besides "a pharaonic power".

References
  1. Jörn Schulz, Gilles Perrault Notre ami le roi in INFORMATION 1999 volume 1/93 107
  2. "Accueil GALLIMARD Folio actuel Notre ami le roi". gallimard.fr. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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