The Role Of Non-State Actors In Foreign Policy

The recognition of Western Sahara by the Organization of African Unity(OAU), forced the Moroccan government to formally withdraw its membership from the organization. Thus Morocco became the only African state to remain outside the organization. Western Sahara has been called the old disputed land in Africa since the Spanish granted the territory to Morocco in 1975. It is in this context that the role played by non-state-actor "Numhyd" in Algeria and how it influenced the eventual withdrawal of Morocco from the Organization of African Unity is important and is the focus of the thesis.The role of non-state actor in Algeria was really significant in indirectly undermining and influencing Morocco’s foreign policy towards the Western Sahara region. Subsequently, the dispute took place between Morocco and its opponent the Polisario Front(SADR) in late 1975. The Algerian government has been the biggest supporter of the Polisario Front for self-determination- militarily, financially, logistically and diplomatically.This thesis illustrates how Algeria has utilized the non-state actor in Western Sahara to lessen Morocco’s foreign policy through its territory on the one hand and undermine Morocco’s foreign policy decisions on the other. Yet, Algeria’s involvement in the Western Sahara dispute has a long- term perspective especially geopolitical and economic terms not only in North Africa but also the entire continent. As long as Algerian government supported and lobbied for recognition of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic(SADR) as an independent state, this reaction from Algeria was unacceptable to the Kingdom of Morocco and also from the international society as a violation of international law and norms of the UN. Therefore, the thesis examines Algeria’s challenge to the Kingdom of Morocco. It also studies how Algeria’s actions and moves have weakened Morocco’s goals through Western Sahara as well as the insight of Morocco with the Maghreb region and across the globe.The study employs the role of non-state actors and how they impact foreign policy as the conceptual framework for the thesis. "Numhyd" an Algerian company(Numhyd engages in the exploration and production of natural gas and oil in Algeria as well in the region of Moroccan Western Sahara territory. Adding to this Numhyd is also operates as a subsidiary of oil enterprise across African oil countries.) is the non-state actor under study. The thesis explains how Numhyd has been employed or used by the Algerian government to support Polisario Front to carry out its foreign policy in Western Sahara.The thesis employs a single case study analysis. It studies the role played by Numhyd as an instrument of foreign policy for the Algerian government. The thesis uses both primary and secondary data. Primary data includes government documents, and interviews from officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Morocco. Secondary data includes books, articles, journals, presentations and the World Wide Web.The section on literature review investigates the relevant literature to examine the effectiveness and productivity of the interest group in influencing Morocco’s foreign policy decisions. So far interest groups or(Non-State Actors) afford us the following variables: interest group type, financial resources of interest groups and their function as the advocate on the issue. These variables will be a highlight, in turn, relating to the theoretical implications found in the literature review.An argument has made concerning this territorial issue especially Western Sahara. Firstly the Organization of African Unity recognized Western Sahara because Algeria supported and financed the recognition of SADR as a state on behalf of interest group within Algeria. Another argument is based on the usage of Numhyd as a non state actor. It is a tool of the Algerian government to weaken and lessen Morocco’s foreign policy in regards to its domestic affairs. The role of external actors in Algeria was also important in undermining Moroccan foreign policy towards the Organization of African Unity OAU.And the third argument has been made on Algeria’s advocated SADR’s right to self-determination against the Kingdom of Morocco in order to procure natural resources in Western Sahara as well get an access to the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, Moroccan government was not much dependable on OAU members to solve Western Sahara issue as much as depending on its allies like the US, Europeans, and Gulf Arab Countries.The dissertation supports the argument in the subsequent chapters. The thesis consists of five chapters including a conclusion which summarizes the entire thesis.Chapter I gives a brief introduction to the definition of the OAU as well a concrete historical background of the Western Sahara issue to which this dissertation will conform. It also shows the functionalism of the OAU in terms of the disagreement between Morocco and OAU members over the recognition of Moroccan Western Sahara by accepting Sahrawi’s Arab Democratic Republic(SADR) as an independent state. This dissertation grasps the uncharted subject of the Western Sahara dispute and African Unity relationship and also highlights locations that previous studies have ignored. This section also includes theoretical perspective and highlights on building a direct interaction which explains the usage of the concept of non-state actor affecting foreign policy as well as emphasizing and describing the important role of interest group in shaping and influencing Moroccan foreign policy outcomes over Western Sahara.Chapter II discusses the relations between Morocco and Algeria and the reason for the historical antipathy between the two countries and the reason behind the tensions between the two countries. It also analyzes the involvement of the Algerian government in Morocco’s domestic affairs by financing and supporting the Polisario Front(SADR) to claim Western Sahara as their independent state.Chapter III examines the key role of interest group in Algeria and its functional approach especially over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. As a matter fact, interest group or so-called non-state actor has fired upon the Western Sahara territory which influences Moroccan foreign policy decisions. Additionally, Numhyd is used as an effective tool to undermine Morocco’s decisions in order to gain more economic incentives.Chapter IV shows a case study which is the main focus of the thesis and tries to highlight the impact of interest group in Algeria on Morocco’s decision to leave the OAU. The case analysis uses the example of failure of the OAU in resolving the Western Sahara issue as an African problem. This case also provides answers to the following questions of why and how a non state actor has impacted Morocco’s foreign policy decision making over Sahara land, as well pointing out the strategic and dynamic Moroccan position on Western Sahara by addressing the international community and United Nations to stop Algerian involvement in other countries’ internal affairs particularly Western Sahara territory.Chapter V summarizes the entire study by reflecting on the outcomes and the analytical model itself. It also gives a short explanation and analysis of Morocco’s and Algeria’s rivalry not only in North Africa but also across the Maghrib region. These findings provide some plausible guidance for future research.Finally, as long as the Western Sahara problem is unresolved, the Algerian government will still remain and be seen as a barrier to the peace process due to its stand against Morocco. As a matter of fact, Algeria will keep seeing itself as a major sponsor of the right of self-determination for the SADR group and practice this strategy as a tool to undermine Morocco on both sides: the African side and Global side.