Couscous, Kaftans, and Culture Wars: Algeria and Morocco at UNESCO

Abstract

In May 2024 Morocco lodged an official complaint at UNESCO against Algeria for "cultural appropriation" of its national heritage. As the two countries battle over the national origin of couscous, raï music, and women’s ceremonial dress, their diplomatic conflict risks undoing the positive work by UNESCO in the MENA region and deepening the organisation's political crisis. UNESCO has increasingly been involved in the reconstruction of destroyed heritage sites after extremist attacks (Mali, Iraq), but these positive developments are threatened by the politicisation of its decision bodies, such as the World Heritage Committee. Diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco at UNESCO have worsened. After collaborating to inscribe intangible cultural objects under shared applications (couscous), each country is now applying individually to inscribe shared objects as exclusively its own (raï music and women's ceremonial dress). The Algerian-Moroccan tension risks dividing the Arab bloc and introducing more gridlock within UNESCO, while further accelerating states' instrumentalisation of the organisation's brand for their diplomatic aims. Heritage conservation represents one of UNESCO's major successes, but there is an urgent need to reform its policies and operating procedures to avoid the fragmentation of its mandate. We are already witnessing the emergence of NGOs and philanthropic organisations, which work with greater flexibility but also raise questions of accountability.