Il Marocco “guarda” alla Cina: narrazioni, percezioni e impatto della Belt and Road Initiative

Onnis, Barbara

Il Marocco “guarda” alla Cina: narrazioni, percezioni e impatto della Belt and Road Initiative

Sino-Moroccan relations, formally established in 1958, have undergone a widely acknowledged qualitative upgrade in conjunction with two key diplomatic milestones: Morocco’s accession to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in November 2017 and the signing of the Implementation Agreement in January 2022. This study investigates how these developments have shaped the domestic debate, particularly as reflected in Moroccan media. Through qualitative content analysis of articles from five representative national outlets – “Le Matin”, “Bayane Al Yawm/Al Bayane”, “L’Économiste”, “TelQuel”, and “Hespress” – complemented by research reports and Arab Barometer survey data, the study explores narrative frames, editorial orientations, and discursive shifts surrounding the evolving partnership. Findings reveal a generally favorable portrayal of Sino-Moroccan cooperation, highlighting economic opportunities, infrastructure development, and Morocco’s geostrategic positioning while critical perspectives – though present – remain relatively marginal and focus mainly on risks related to indebtedness, industrial dependency, and environmental impact. Public opinion appears cautiously receptive to deepened engagement with China, although structural factors – foremost Western Sahara diplomacy – continue to shape the strategic parameters of Morocco’s foreign policy choices.

Il numero completo e i suoi articoli sono disponibili in open access sulla piattaforma Rivisteweb de Il Mulino.

Published in:

La Cina nel Mediterraneo allargato

31 January 2026

From the same author

L’Asia orientale e sudorientale nell’età contemporanea

12 March 2026

Il manuale analizza le trasformazioni storiche del lungo XX secolo nell’Asia orientale e sudorientale, prendendo in esame il mondo cinese, l’arcipelago giapponese, la penisola... Read More

China Gate – 12 March 2026

12 March 2026

“It is believed that as early as 2015 Iran signed a memorandum to integrate the Beidou system into its military infrastructure, replacing the previously... Read More

Al Jazeera – 11 March 2026

11 March 2026

“If the reported effectiveness of BeiDou was to be confirmed, it could prompt Iran’s neighbouring states, including those currently being targeted by Iranian missiles,... Read More

Israeli Experts Converge: China Can’t Afford to Back Iran

10 March 2026

“China’s limited response to and non-involvement during the Twelve-Day War in June 2025 appear to have consolidated the belief in Israel that Beijing, under... Read More

The New York Times – 9 March 2026

9 March 2026

“Regardless of if the Americans win or lose in Iran, China wins.” Andrea Ghiselli (T.wai & University of Exeter) is mentioned in the article... Read More

Events & Training Programs