Need for understanding: interdependence and competition in the spanish- moroccan relations

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the actual threat that Morocco poses to Spain, particularly as a result of its territorial claims on Spanish possessions in North Africa. The paper shows that Morocco has developed a number of ways to pressure Spain in order to force it to negotiate the sovereignty of those territories. Moroccan methods aim at harming Spanish national interests, thus affecting Spain internally, but they also mean to attract the attention of the international community to undermine the Spanish position. Madrid, In turn, has developed a strategy designed to face the Moroccan challenge. This strategy is based on both deterrence and economic interdependency. Nevertheless, it is observed that, in spite of Spanish efforts and the growing socioeconomic ties between both countries, the continuous pressure of Morocco may well lead to situations of actual threat, as in the Perejil crisis.