In her important study on migration policies, Katharina Natter redirects the focus from the typical European-centric discourse to the diverse experiences of Tunisia and Morocco—two nations that are both significant senders and receivers of migrants. Rather than focusing on migration policies in Europe, she poses the more pressing question of how these North African countries are developing their migration policies amid complex domestic and international pressures. Key to her analysis is the “regime effect,” which suggests that authoritarian and democratic regimes may pursue unexpected policies (liberal versus restrictive) due to domestic and international factors. By exploring how institutions behave under various regime types—from shades of authoritarianism to transitioning democracies—Natter reveals divergent policy outcomes that challenge the mainstream scholarship.

Natter argues that Morocco, despite having low levels of migration, has significantly increased the political saliency of migration in both domestic and international politics to foster its image. Domestically, King Mohammed VI seeks to boost his political legitimacy by portraying himself as a benevolent and merciful monarch, while internationally, he aims to position Morocco as a liberal monarchy. Additionally, Morocco leverages migration strategically to secure pol