Party-Affiliated Academics: Between Idea Production and Union-Like Postures…

Universities have historically been—and remain—a key battleground for political factions competing to recruit professors into their ranks. Indeed, most Moroccan partisan groups maintain, if not formal parallel organizations, at least intra-party structures dedicated to the higher education sector.  

These organizations serve a dual purpose. First, they act as extensions of their parties within academia, but also as ‘idea factories,’ tasked with developing and promoting their parent organizations’ visions on societal issues at large, particularly those affecting universities.  

This is not to overlook, of course, the ‘advocacy dimension’ of defending the interests of the teaching body. A prime example is the academics affiliated with the National Rally of Independents (RNI). Recently, their association organized a highly instructive event where scholars from the Dove Party dissected strategies for addressing water stress—a challenge of critical urgency.  

This topic, to understate it, is of ‘burning relevance,’ and the contributions of these researcher-academics are vital in shaping solutions. During the event, participants not only mapped the current landscape but also highlighted actionable pathways to confront the issue. The party’s grounded presence and participatory approach underscore its commitment to meaningful engagement.

Revival Engines!  

On the side of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), the party appears to be doubling down on the National Union of Higher Education (SneSup). While SneSup claims to include multiple political factions and presents itself as an ‘independent union,’ many still view it as a ‘backroom’ extension of the Rose Party.  

This perceived dominance, according to observers, was evident during its 2024 congress. The proceedings culminated in a USFP-dominated sweep, securing nearly a third of the national council seats—a result that drew sharp criticism from rival factions. Critics argued the elections were marred by irregularities and skewed toward ‘orchestrated allocation’ among a select few parties.  

In response, RNI-affiliated academics vehemently rejected the ‘seat allocation offer’ meant to include them in SneSup’s national council. Against this volatile backdrop in higher education—likely to intensify ahead of the 2026 legislative elections—the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) refuses to be sidelined.  

Reports indicate that academics from the Tractor Party have recently ramped up regional meetings nationwide, laying groundwork for a large-scale national convention aimed at establishing a parallel organization dedicated to higher education.  

Similarly, the Popular Movement (MP) is reviving its higher education wing. Though the party’s “Ear of Grain” organization dates back to 2019, its structures had largely been in ‘standby mode.’ Nonetheless, the leadership—heirs to the Amghar legacy—is now striving to reignite momentum.  

In January, the party convened an ordinary assembly of its association, planning to establish regional branches and a dedicated arm for Moroccan academics abroad. While MP leaders hope to bolster visibility in universities, they remain tight-lipped about operational strategies to transform their ‘Haraki University Forum’ into a ‘support force.’  

Meanwhile, the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS)—once renowned for its ‘reservoir’ of university professors—has struggled in academia. Key figures who once symbolized its presence in Moroccan faculties have ‘deserted the scene,’ with the party failing to cultivate successors.  

This marks a ‘decline in visibility,’ or even an outright withdrawal, as PPS-affiliated academics pivot to other platforms—such as SneSup, partisan media outlets, or social networks—to voice their views, rather than engaging through their party’s higher education sector.  

Looking ahead to the next legislative elections, one professor predicts a potential ‘resurgence’ of parties on the academic front—a sphere that, like nature, abhors a vacuum.