Crisis of Rural Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Morocco and Senegal
Bauer, Alana
Bauer, Alana
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Abstract
Why do Morocco and Senegal�two predominantly Muslim, former French colonies in the Maghreb-Sahel region�exhibit such different models and outcomes of rural governance? This thesis investigates the institutional and historical roots of these differences, focusing on how governance structures shape legitimacy and performance in rural areas. While Morocco�s governance remains highly centralized under the makhzen, relying on direct state policing, Senegal employs a decentralized model in which traditional and religious leaders (marabouts). Furthermore, Afrobarometer data (R9, 2021/2023) reveal stark contrasts in institutional trust; 69.1% and 65.7% of rural Senegalese express high trust in traditional leaders and police, respectively, whereas in Morocco these percentages are only 7.5% and 35.4%. To explain this stark difference, this study combines Rational Choice Institutionalism with Historical Institutionalism. First, I will assess how institutional design influences rural governance legitimacy and performance. Then, I will trace the colonial and postcolonial history that produced divergent systems of authority in Senegal and Morocco. By linking institutional legacies to present-day trust, this research contributes to a broader debate on rural governance, legitimacy, and state-society relations in postcolonial Africa.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Political Science
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Social Science