Independence for Western Sahara - classic or dud?

As a Pole, I tend to find the connection between national borders, self rule and the concept of nationalism and national identity a touch suspect.

African borders are often a bit strange, but the Moroccan state precedes colonialism (and Morocco colonised for such a short period of time that it had the same Vizier at independence as when the French took over). I don't think the Moroccan kingdom ever exercised sovereignty over the Western Sahara, but I'm open to correction on this.

I think I know what you mean. what's funny about this stuff is the way people talk about ethnicities and nations as being fixed for all time and having "natural" territories, when in fact they evolve and change in a fluid manner. My favourite example of this is Belgium - the territory we now know as Belgium being separated from the Netherlands not on the basis of any religious-ethnic divide but because the Spanish managed to hang on there during the Dutch war of independence. Then, over the centuries, it evolves a national identity.

yeah yeah, all Bourbon Monarchies. Oh what, France is a Republic? Yeah right.

maybe that could support the whole country after independence

Let's be serious. These kind of resource caches always get taken over by some small clique who monopolizes the revenues. The country at large sees none of the benefits. In that respect I see little difference in whether Western Sahara is an independent country or part of Morocco.

In the big picture, my gut tells me that the sensible thing would be for this territory to stay part of Morocco: build off the larger population, the more developed state/administrative apparatus. Think about how small the tax revenues would be for an independent Western Sahara (or alternately, what kind of burden would have to be imposed to develop a free-standing government, educational system, etc.)

My feeling really is that the only arguments that work against WS independence are saying that WS is an artificial construct of colonialism, sundered artificially from its ancient status as part of Morocco. One can then look at this and see argument and see if WS was ever under the rule of the Moroccan king or not.

The SADR is not a member of the Arab League, nor of the Arab Maghreb Union, both of which include Morocco as a full member.

from Wikipedia

Since its inception in 1976, the various constitutional revisions has transformed the republic from an ad hoc managerial structure, into what closely resembles an actual governing apparatus. From the late 1980s the parliament made a clear attempt at instituting a division of powers and of disentangling the republic's structures from those of the Polisario.

It's instructive to note that Sahrawis have been seeking independence (from Spain) since before the Morrocans took over. The only reason that there has not been a local referendum is Morrocan refusal.

They can, of course. The question was classic or dud, not which side are you prepared to take up arms for. They are certainly entitled to choose to be "poor but free," as you put it, although I think it's equally patronizing to assume from behind our 20" monitors that political freedom is more important than economic security.

Obviously there are difficulties with either position. But I've been in enough developing countries to be convinced that "independence's" only guarantee is that a small group of politically-active and/or economically-gifted group of local residents will suddenly gain access to new levers of power and prosperity that will be created along with the state. But the benefits to the rest of the people will be suspect. How does it matter to the Tuaregs in the desert either way?

I'm not arguing against self-determination per se, as much as arguing that in some cases the benefits are intangible and the sacrfices very real.

They are certainly entitled to choose to be "poor but free," as you put it, although I think it's equally patronizing to assume from behind our 20" monitors that political freedom is more important than economic security.

at the moment, they are basically poor but unfree, with the resources of their country being exploited for the benefit of the Moroccan King.

Whatever else about the SADR, it produces great music.