Yahia H. Zoubir

This book brings together Algerian-based scholars and Algerians in the diaspora to address the many, salient issues facing Algeria, the largest country in Africa and the Middle East. Until February 22, 2019, Algeria looked like the beacon of stability in the region, for the authoritarian regime eluded the so-called Arab Spring, which resulted in chaos in a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The authors of the chapters in this book are a mix of sociologists, economists, political scientists, linguists and international relations specialists who have used the theoretical and methodological instruments in their respective fields to decipher the complexities that characterize the Algerian political system. In the domestic part, some of the chapters deal with issues seldom tackled in Maghreb studies, namely, the language and identities issues, which are at the forefront of the protest movement since February 2019. Other chapters analyse the role of the elites, the emergence of the new entrepreneurs, the future of energy, gender, media and human rights, the predicament of the rentier state, and the resource curse. The part of international relations examines Algeria's roles in the Mediterranean and in the Sahel, the strategic partnership with China, the complicated relations with France, and the relations with Iran and the GCC. Exploring Algeria's transformation, this collection is an original addition to the books on the Maghreb that will be a key resource to students and scholars interested in the developing world, the Middle East and North Africa.

Domestic Issues and International Relations

The Politics of Algeria

Gregory White

In the aftermath of the turmoil that shook North Africa in late 2010 and early 2011, commentators and analysts have sought explanations to the factors that triggered the uprisings and to understand why a region, seemingly characterized by relative stability for decades, would suddenly erupt in convulsions. Had an underlying dynamism in the region overwhelmed what were ostensibly stable authoritarian regimes? What were the connections to events and dynamics beyond the region, such as countries in the Middle East, international commodity markets, and environmental factors, amongst others? Why had allies abetted authoritarianism for so long, and what were the implications for such alliances? North African Politics: Change and continuity brings together experts to explore these questions, providing in-depth analyses of important developments in the region, which build upon and complement the 2008 companion volume, North Africa: Politics, Region and the Limits of Transformation. This 21-chapter volume is a key contribution that responds to the need in the Anglo-American sphere for sustained, critical studies on North Africa and examines political, economic, security, social and military aspects of the region. Focused studies on individual countries allow detailed discussion of regional factors. The book also examines extrinsic, trans-regional dynamics, such as North Africa’s influential interdependencies with the Levant and the Gulf, Europe, Sahelian and sub-Saharan Africa, and North America. Its innovative approach provides new perspectives on North Africa, extending its research scope to include Egypt and exploring China’s evolving role in the region. Providing an important contribution in the assessment of the ever-shifting political and social tectonics within and beyond North Africa, North African Politics is an essential resource for students, scholars and policy makers in Middle Eastern and North African Studies, and beyond.

Yahia H. Zoubir

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