Arab Center For Scientific Research And Humane Studies
ACTIVITY REPORT
Activity type
Mini Colloquium
Activity Subject
“State and Liberty in the Arab World”
Activity director
Rachid Aourraz
Activity Supervisor
Nouh El Harmouzi
Place
Marrakech, Morocco
Date
December 1st – 2nd , 2015
Summary
For two days, 18 young researchers from the Arab world have met to discuss aspects of human
liberty based on a rich preselected academic readings and articles that they have received beforehand.
This scholarly conference, was in the form of a focus group and was only attended by invitation. The
roundtable discussion sessions was facilitated by moderators in a climate of open debate and exchange
of ideas. This intellectually challenging exercise was designed to make the participants engage in deep
reflection and analysis of ideas beyond dogmas. Free market, civil liberties, property rights and Public
Choice were the main themes addressed in the colloquium, within the context of the Arab world.
The colloquium was a great opportunity to study and discuss some of the most important texts
and articles about liberty and it’s values and I could confirm that this first edition has succeeded in
making the majority of participants convinced and more aware of the liberal ideas importance and the
need of promoting them in the Arab world. The participants have expressed their interest in any
upcoming colloquiums and discussions about liberty.
At the end I’ve concluded two things , first is the urging necessity for doing more efforts in promoting
liberty ideas and values in the Arab world and second is that more work needs to be done in
introducing the fundamentals of classical liberalism to Arab readers.
Session I: Liberalism inception and development
This first session was about the foundations of liberal thoughts and philosophy, three chosen texts of
Ralph Raico, Ludwig Von Mises and Mario Vargas Llosa were the subject of study and discussion.
Session II: the power of the state- the case of the Arab world
In the second session participants were given a text chosen from the “Ethics of redistribution” by
Bertrand De Jouvenel, which served as a guide to assess the size of governments in the Arab world
and to discuss the effects caused by redistribution politics.
At the end all participants agreed on the fact that governments in the Arab world are too big in a way
that they are causing much harm to individual liberties.
Session III: Theory of Public Choice - Money and politics in the Arab
world
In the third session participants were handed the well known article “The Public Choice
Revolution” by Pierre Lemieux and a quoted text from Public choice book by EAMONN BUTLER,
and they used these materials to analyze the relationship between money and politics and to understand
the role of money in policy making in Arab countries.
Session IV: Economic freedom and Development
The fourth session was dedicated to discussions about the role of economic freedom in development,
participants had a chapter from Milton Friedman’s “Economic Freedom and Political Freedom” for
reading in addition to a text by Wolfgang Kasper “The importance of economic freedom in a
globalised world”.
Session V: Crony Capitalism
In the fifth session participants read texts from “The morality of Capitalism” by Dr TOM PALMER
and “What is Capitalism” by AYN RAND and made through discussions the distinction between
capitalism and crony capitalism.
Session VI: property rights
In the last session participants were able to understand the role of property rights in creating a suitable
environment for economic growth and development after they read chosen texts from “Property
rights” by Nigel Ashford and “The Role of Property Rights as an institution: Implication for
development policy by Bourdeaux Karol.
Readings
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What is classical liberalism by Ralph Raico
Liberalism in the Classical tradition by Ludwig von Mises
Liberalism in the new millennium by Mario Vargas Llosa
The Ethics of Redistribution by Bertrand de Jouvenel
Toward new social contract by the World Bank Group
The Public Choice Revolution by Pierre Lemieux
Public choice by Eamonn Butler
Economic Freedom and Political Freedom by Milton Freidman
The importance of economic freedom in a globalised world by Wolfgang Kasper
What is Capitalism by Ayn Rand
The morality of Capitalism by Dr Tom Palmer
Property rights by Nigel Ashford
The Role of Property Rights as an institution: Implication for development policy by
Boudreaux Karol.
The readings total about 207 pages.
The Program
Tuesday December 1st
9:00 – 10:30: First session: Liberalism Inception and Development moderated By Rachid
Aourraz
-What is classical liberalism by Ralph Raico
-Liberalism in the Classical tradition by Ludwig von Mises
-Liberalism in the new millennium by Mario Vargas Llosa
10.30 – 11:00: Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30: Second session: the power of the state - the case of the Arab world moderated
by Dr. Ali Massoud
-The Ethics of Redistribution by Bertrand de Jouvenel
-Toward new social contract by the World Bank Group
12:30 - 16:30: Lunch break
16:30 - 18:30: Third session: Theory of Public Choice- Money and politics in the Arab world
moderated by Dr. Ali Massoud
-The Public Choice Revolution by Pierre Lemieux
-Public Choice by Eamonn Butler
Wednesday December 2nd
9:00 - 10.30: Fourth session: Economic freedom and Development moderated by Dr. Mazen
Derawan
-Economic Freedom and Political Freedom by Milton Freidman
-The importance of economic freedom in a globalised world by Wolfgang Kasper
11:00 - 12:30: Fifth session: Crony Capitalism moderated by Dr. Mazen Derawan
-What is Capitalism by Ayn Rand
-The morality of Capitalism by Dr Tom Palmer
12.30 - 16.30: Lunch Break
16:30 – 18:00: Sixth session: property rights moderated by Rachid Aourraz
-Property rights by Nigel Ashford
-The Role of Property Rights as an institution: Implication for development policy by Boudreaux
Karol.
Participants
Name
Abdellah Idelkousse
Abdelmoughit Jazouli
Ahmed Abdelwahab
Ali Massoud
Asmaa Bassuri
Hend Farag Ahmed Rashwan
Hiba Alimi
Marwa Ammar
Mazen Derawan
Mohamed Aissa
Mohamed Amine Kassaoui
Mona Jameleddine
Mustapha Radji
Rachid Aourraz
Radwa Samy
Shadwa Ramadan
Suzan Afifi
Youcef Maouchi
Occupation/Organization
Researcher Sultan Moulay Ismael Univeristy
Researcher Ibn Tofail Univeristy
Economic Researcher
Egyptian Center for public Policy Studies (ECPPS)
Professor of Economics Sohag University
Researcher Cadi Ayyad University
Energy specialist/ Ahram centre
Afeq Tunis Party
Researcher University Of Kuwait
Researcher and Entrepreneur
Baasiss Alamal Foundation
Tunisian Association for Governance
Health care reform specialist at INasanté
Associate Professor of sociology
University of Mostaganem Algeria
Researcher at the Arab center for scientific research
and humane studies
Economic research/ Accountability University Of Cairo
Researcher University Of Kuwait
Economic policy analyst at the Jordanian Planning
office
Teaching and Research Fellow
GREQAM - Faculté d’Economie et de Gestion - AixMarseille University
Country
Morocco
Morocco
Egypt
Egypt
Morocco
Egypt
Tunis
Kuwait
Syria
Morocco
Tunisia
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco
Egypt
Kuwait
Jordan
France
Mini Colloquium Group on Facebook
fb.com/groups/172225099798101
A group on Facebook was created so that participants could discuss and exchange ideas on the
previous topics, and also to share news on liberty in their home countries and their own writings on
liberty and democracy.
The group has already proven to be an important space for discussion and exchange.
The service at “Les Jardins de l’Agdal” hotel
 Reception and Accommodations
The registration of participants took place in the best conditions, the hotel put a high
qualified team at the service of the participants who arrived on November 30th.
 Dinners and Relations with the Staff
The decor at the hotel is exquisite. The atmosphere is very relaxing and pleasant. The
entrance with its oriental architecture and a catchy touch of dark offers a soothing scenery.
The restaurant has a lucid lightening and a smooth disposition which added to the
multitude of choices of food ensure a luxurious dinner. The staff members are friendly and
their service is above any complaint. The rooms are very big, very clean and very
comfortable.
 The conduct of the conference
The conference took place, over two days, in a very spacious room that meets the highest
standards. The participants were assiduous and no delay has been registered at the start of
the sessions or at the resumption after the coffee breaks.
 Arrivals
Upon arrival each participant found a taxi awaiting at the airport to take him/her directly to
the hotel where the conference is held. This procedure, monitored by our team, profited
the participants arriving by Marrakech Airport and also those landed in Casablanca. All the
participants arrived according to the predefined timetable and no significant delay
was registered.
 Stay at the hotel
The hotel restaurant ensured the meals and the coffee-breaks according to the conference
schedule. No delays or complaints have been reported in this regard. The participants
enjoyed a variety of meals of the Moroccan cuisine and were very satisfied with the
remarkable service provided by the personnel.
Comments from participants about the event
 Abdelmoughit Jazouli
First of all , I’d like to thank you for the huge efforts you have done to organize the
colloquium which was really a great opportunity to learn and exchange ideas on some of
the most important issues that need to be addressed in the Arab world , such as liberty ,
democracy and rule of law . It was a successful event, however the discussion lacked the
diversity of points of views it may be necessary in the future to choose participants with
different specializations and why not opposed ideologies.
At the end and during the discussions, I could tell that a lot of participants have learned a
lot on the classical liberalism tradition, free markets private property and rule of law ...etc.
And I would really love to see and participate in a lot more coming colloquiums.
 Asmaa Bassuri
Overall colloquium exceeded my expectations in terms of organization and networking
opportunities. The professionalism of the organization team was very impressive.
Accommodation services were very convenient. On the other hand, the selection of essays
we were offered was very enriching and has taught us interesting concepts about Liberal
economy that we had to debate with peers from all over the world.
 Mazen Derawan
The first mini colloquium that we attended in Marrakech titled "The State and Freedom in
the Arab World" had the following benefits:
1- It encouraged attendees to read a wealth of literature.
2- Not only it encouraged attendees to read, but it also encouraged them to read about
subjects and their authors that they normally would not think about and would not
normally find in typical Arab libraries.
3- It taught attendees a new way of running discussions. A way that teaches time
management of the discussion while allowing and even encouraging everyone to be
interactive and to be heard.
4- I personally enjoyed the readings, discussion, and the managing of the 2 sessions that I
did, subject wise and discussion wise.
I strongly recommend that such activities to continue.
 Mustapha Radji
It was a great experience for me, for the first time I meet people just to discuss in depth
texts and papers on Ideas of Liberty. There was a diversity and no limits just two rules to
participate in the debate. We was reacting toward ideas and evaluating them from our Arab
contexts. It was a very interesting experience to be replicated and to be continued.
 Shadwa Ramadan
The program content met my needs. Increased my knowledge of policy issues. Also
content was presented in an organized and clear way.
Teaching style by opening discussion was effective and it was appropriate to all levels.
By attending this course, I believed that I have to improve many of my advanced skills in
discussion and argument. And I learnt how I can express my ideas clearly and present
useful examples in politics and economics.
This report is drafted by: Rachid Aourraz
Translated by: Abdelmoughit Al Jazouli
Revised by: Jamal Aourraz