Mr. Hassan Tariq delivered a thought-provoking intervention at the opening session of the seminar titled “Territorial Development and Local Justice in Morocco”, organized by the Master’s Programme in Public Management and Public Finance, in coordination with the Division of Public Law and Political Sciences at the Faculty of Law, Economic and Social Sciences – Agdal, Rabat.
In his address, Mr. Tariq emphasized that the social state is, by definition, a territorially grounded justice-oriented state, where the subject and scope of social policy are intrinsically linked to spaces of social proximity. He underlined that territorial variables constitute a decisive factor in the design, engineering, and evaluation of social policy needs.
He called for a conceptual shift from the notion of spatial justice toward a broader understanding of territorial equity, stressing that public policies must focus on correcting inequalities and building programmes that genuinely promote equal opportunity. Fairness, he noted, should not be reduced to mere accounting equality, but understood as a substantive and context-sensitive objective.
Mr. Tariq further advocated for a rethinking of administrative sciences, urging scholars and practitioners to move beyond rigid standards and textual frameworks. He highlighted the importance of cognitive humility, which enables interdisciplinary engagement and fosters meaningful convergence between administrative sciences, sociology, and human geography.
In this context, he asserted that administrative policies cannot be conceived independently of sociology, just as territorial policies cannot be meaningfully developed without reference to human geography. He encouraged law students in particular to engage deeply with geographical scholarship, noting that it provides an essential lens for understanding Morocco’s territorial realities.
Mr. Tariq also drew attention to the intellectual legacy of the late Mohamed Al-Nasiri, describing his work as a foundational reference for comprehending Morocco as a horizon of knowledge. He urged researchers to recognize the depth and richness of Al-Nasiri’s contributions to Moroccan geographical thought.
Referring to reports issued by the Al‑Waseet Foundation, Mr. Tariq observed that Moroccan society is undergoing notable transformations characterized by an evolving administrative phenomenon. He highlighted a shift from viewing administration as a mere extension of state authority toward understanding management as a vehicle for intensifying social policies and responding dynamically to broad societal demands.
The seminar opened with welcoming remarks by:
- Hassan Al‑Zawiri, Dean of the Faculty;
- Jawad Al‑Nouhi, Head of the Division of Public Law and Political Sciences;
- Abdul Aziz Darwish, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Labour Boards and Regions;
- Redwan Amimi, Coordinator of the Master’s Programme in Public Management and Public Finance and Deputy Dean for Pedagogical Affairs; and
- Nabila Ibn Ahoud, Pedagogical Officer responsible for provisional teaching units.
The seminar provided an important academic platform for examining the intersections between territorial development, governance, and social justice, reinforcing the role of interdisciplinary approaches in shaping responsive and equitable public policies in Morocco.
