DOCSLIB.ORG

University of Warwick Institutional Repository

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
University of Warwick Institutional Repository University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/3919 This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. THE FRONT ISLAMIQUE DU SALUT AND THE DENIAL OF LEGITIMACY Myles O’ Byrne B.C.L., M.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in French Studies University of Warwick, Department of French June 2010 Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 4 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 5 List of acronyms ...................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 7 Locating my research: bibliographical choices and research contributions ........................... 10 Review of the literature ..................................................................................................... 11 Contributions to the field .................................................................................................. 16 Thesis structure ...................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter I ........................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter II .......................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter III ........................................................................................................................ 27 Chapter IV ........................................................................................................................ 32 Chapter I: Nation-Building, Politics, Religion and the FIS ............................................. 38 Section 1 – Theories of nation-building and post-independence Algeria .............................. 39 Section 1.1 – Smith and the nation.................................................................................... 41 Minimally modernist: under-emphasising the role of the state.................................................................. 42 Vertical and lateral ethnies ........................................................................................................................ 46 FIS as agent in nationalism ....................................................................................................................... 49 Section 1.2 – Post-independence nation-building ............................................................ 52 Inadequacy of economic analysis .............................................................................................................. 52 Teething problems ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Self-determination: state or nation?........................................................................................................... 59 State-sanctioned history ............................................................................................................................ 62 Military politics ......................................................................................................................................... 65 Section 2 – Politics and religion ............................................................................................ 71 Section 2.1 – Fundamentalisms ........................................................................................ 71 Secular fundamentalism? .......................................................................................................................... 72 Fundamentalism and Islamism .................................................................................................................. 76 Section 2.2 – Religion in politics ...................................................................................... 82 Islam and the Muslim state ........................................................................................................................ 82 Reformism, nationalism and Islamism in Algeria ..................................................................................... 85 Reconciling public practice and private belief .......................................................................................... 92 Chapter II: Islamism and Challenges to the Democratic Paradigm ............................... 96 Section 1 – Democratic theorising ......................................................................................... 98 Section 1.1 – Democracy: some history and problems of definition .............................. 100 Section 1.2 – Communitarian-liberal debate .................................................................. 103 Section 2 – Assessing Islamism: some perspectives from metropolitan France .................. 113 Section 2.1 – Lahouari Addi ........................................................................................... 114 2 Section 2.2 – Olivier Roy ................................................................................................ 119 Section 2.3 – François Burgat ........................................................................................ 126 Section 3 – Sovereignty, Islamism, legitimacy: potential incompatibilities? ...................... 139 Section 3.1 – Popular sovereignty and Islamic governance ........................................... 139 Section 3.2 – Legitimacy: are we asking the right questions? ........................................ 145 Chapter III: Islamist Uncertainty, Politicking, Legality and the FIS ........................... 151 Section 1 – Emergence of the Islamist movement: early uncertainties................................ 153 Section 1.1 – A distinct politics? ..................................................................................... 153 Section 1.2 – Islamist diversity ....................................................................................... 158 Section 1.3 – Rise of the Djaz‟ara .................................................................................. 162 Section 1.4 – FIS du FLN ? ............................................................................................. 167 Section 2 – Strategic cooperation ........................................................................................ 171 Section 2.1 – Black October: manipulation but by whom? ............................................. 174 Section 2.2 – Post-‟88: concessionary politicking .......................................................... 178 Section 3 – An end to the cooperation ................................................................................. 184 Section 3.1 – La « grève générale » ................................................................................ 186 Section 3.2 – Post-January ‟92: Islamist violence but from where? .............................. 191 Section 3.3 – Attempted negotiations .............................................................................. 196 Section 3.4 – Sant‟Egidio: the definitive rejection of compromise ................................. 198 Chapter IV: Islamist Violence, State Violence and the Distortion of the FIS .............. 205 Section 1 – Souaïdia: La sale guerre .................................................................................... 209 Section 1.1 – Military designs on power ......................................................................... 211 Section 2 – Boudiaf and the search for legitimacy .............................................................. 216 Section 3 – Martinez on the instrumentalisation of violence .............................................. 222 Section 4 – The dirty war in Bentalha ................................................................................. 227 Section 4.1 – What makes these claims credible? ........................................................... 238 Section 5 – Nezzar v Souaïdia ............................................................................................. 244 Section 5.1 – François Gèze and the „conspiracy theory‟ .............................................. 249 Section 6 – Resisting UN pressure ....................................................................................... 257 Section 6.1 – Deflecting responsibility ........................................................................... 257 Section 6.2 – Concluding observations of the UN Human Rights Committee ................ 261 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 263 Future research perspectives ................................................................................................ 270 Appendices .........................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Document
    ALGERIA: ADVERSARIES IN SEARCH OF UNCERTAIN COMPROMISES Rémy Leveau September 1992 © Institute for Security Studies of WEU 1996. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Institute for Security Studies of WEU. ISSN 1017-7566 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Introduction The context of coup d'état The forces involved in the crisis Questions and scenarios Postscript PREFACE Earlier this year the Institute asked Professor Rémy Leveau to prepare a study on `Algeria: adversaries in search of uncertain compromises.' This was discussed at a meeting of specialists on North African politics held in the Institute. In view of the continuing importance of developments in Algeria the Institute asked Professor Leveau to prepare this revised version of his paper for wider circulation. We are very grateful to Professor Leveau for having prepared this stimulating and enlightening analysis of developments which are also of importance to Algeria's European neighbours. We are also grateful to those who took part in the discussion of earlier drafts of this paper. John Roper Paris, September 1992 - v - Algeria: adversaries in search of uncertain compromises Rémy Leveau INTRODUCTION The perception of Islamic movements has been marked in Europe since 1979 by images of the Iranian revolution: hostages in the American Embassy, support for international terrorism, incidents at the mosque in Mecca and the Salman Rushdie affair. The dominant rhetoric of the FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) in Algeria, which has since 1989 presented a similar image of rejection of internal state order and of the international system, strengthens the feeling of an identity of aims and of a bloc of hostile attitudes.
    [Show full text]
  • D-1 Americans for Campaign Reform John D
    APPENDIX D NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING RESOURCES FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMERS Americans for Campaign Reform John D. Rauh, President 5 Bicentennial Square Concord, NH 03301 phone: 603-227-0626 fax: 603-227-0625 email: [email protected] www.just6dollars.org Americans for Campaign Reform is a non-partisan grassroots campaign to restore public accountability and increase participation in American politics through public financing of federal elections. American University School of Communication Prof. Wendell Cochran 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8017 phone: 202-885-2075 fax: 202-885-2019 e-mail: [email protected] www1.soc.american.edu/campfin/index.cfm The American University School of Communication has a campaign finance project with its own web site, normally housed at the top URL but temporarily at the lower one. Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law Monica Youn, Senior Counsel, Democracy Program 161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor New York, NY 10013 phone: 646-292-8342 fax: 212-995-4550 e-mail: [email protected] www.brennancenter.org The Democracy Program of the Brennan Center for Justice supports campaign finance reform through scholarship, public education, and legal action, including litigation and legislative counseling at the federal, state, and local levels. The Brennan Center has served as litigation counsel for proponents of reform in cases throughout the country and encourages reformers to call for legal advice throughout the legislative drafting process. D-1 Brookings Institution Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 phone: 202-797-6000 fax: 202-797-6004 e-mail: [email protected] www.brookings.edu The Brookings Institution maintains a web page specifically addressed to campaign finance issues (http://www.brookings.edu/topics/campaign-finance.aspx).
    [Show full text]
  • Representing the Algerian Civil War: Literature, History, and the State
    Representing the Algerian Civil War: Literature, History, and the State By Neil Grant Landers A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in French in the GRADUATE DIVISION of the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Committee in charge: Professor Debarati Sanyal, Co-Chair Professor Soraya Tlatli, Co-Chair Professor Karl Britto Professor Stefania Pandolfo Fall 2013 1 Abstract of the Dissertation Representing the Algerian Civil War: Literature, History, and the State by Neil Grant Landers Doctor of Philosophy in French Literature University of California, Berkeley Professor Debarati Sanyal, Co-Chair Professor Soraya Tlatli, Co-Chair Representing the Algerian Civil War: Literature, History, and the State addresses the way the Algerian civil war has been portrayed in 1990s novelistic literature. In the words of one literary critic, "The Algerian war has been, in a sense, one big murder mystery."1 This may be true, but literary accounts portray the "mystery" of the civil war—and propose to solve it—in sharply divergent ways. The primary aim of this study is to examine how three of the most celebrated 1990s novels depict—organize, analyze, interpret, and "solve"—the civil war. I analyze and interpret these novels—by Assia Djebar, Yasmina Khadra, and Boualem Sansal—through a deep contextualization, both in terms of Algerian history and in the novels' contemporary setting. This is particularly important in this case, since the civil war is so contested, and is poorly understood. Using the novels' thematic content as a cue for deeper understanding, I engage through them and with them a number of elements crucial to understanding the civil war: Algeria's troubled nationalist legacy; its stagnant one-party regime; a fear, distrust, and poor understanding of the Islamist movement and the insurgency that erupted in 1992; and the unending, horrifically bloody violence that piled on throughout the 1990s.
    [Show full text]
  • Algeria Page 1 of 14
    Algeria Page 1 of 14 Algeria Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor March 6, 2007 Algeria is a multiparty republic of approximately 33 million inhabitants whose head of state (president) is elected by popular vote to a five- year term. The president has the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss cabinet members and the prime minister, who serves as the head of government. The president also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. President Bouteflika was re-elected in 2004 after competing against five other candidates in a generally transparent election in which the military remained neutral. While civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were a few instances in which elements of the security forces acted independently of government authority. The government continued to fail to account for thousands of persons who disappeared in detention during the 1990s. Other significant human rights problems included reports of abuse and torture; official impunity; prolonged pretrial detention; limited judicial independence; denial of fair, public trials; restrictions on civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association; security-based restrictions on movement; limitations on religious freedom, including increased regulation of non-Muslim worship; corruption and lack of government transparency; discrimination against women; and restrictions on workers' rights. RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From: a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.
    [Show full text]
  • Twitter and Millennial Participation in Voting During Nigeria's 2015 Presidential Elections
    Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2021 Twitter and Millennial Participation in Voting During Nigeria's 2015 Presidential Elections Deborah Zoaka Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Deborah Zoaka has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Lisa Saye, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Raj Singh, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Christopher Jones, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2021 Abstract Twitter and Millennial Participation in Voting during Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Elections by Deborah Zoaka MPA Walden University, 2013 B.Sc. Maiduguri University, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May, 2021 Abstract This qualitative phenomenological research explored the significance of Twitter in Nigeria’s media ecology within the context of its capabilities to influence the millennial generation to participate in voting during the 2015 presidential election. Millennial participation in voting has been abysmally low since 1999, when democratic governance was restored in Nigeria after 26 years of military rule, constituting a grave threat to democratic consolidation and electoral legitimacy. The study was sited within the theoretical framework of Democratic participant theory and the uses and gratifications theory.
    [Show full text]
  • Randomocracy
    Randomocracy A Citizen’s Guide to Electoral Reform in British Columbia Why the B.C. Citizens Assembly recommends the single transferable-vote system Jack MacDonald An Ipsos-Reid poll taken in February 2005 revealed that half of British Columbians had never heard of the upcoming referendum on electoral reform to take place on May 17, 2005, in conjunction with the provincial election. Randomocracy Of the half who had heard of it—and the even smaller percentage who said they had a good understanding of the B.C. Citizens Assembly’s recommendation to change to a single transferable-vote system (STV)—more than 66% said they intend to vote yes to STV. Randomocracy describes the process and explains the thinking that led to the Citizens Assembly’s recommendation that the voting system in British Columbia should be changed from first-past-the-post to a single transferable-vote system. Jack MacDonald was one of the 161 members of the B.C. Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform. ISBN 0-9737829-0-0 NON-FICTION $8 CAN FCG Publications www.bcelectoralreform.ca RANDOMOCRACY A Citizen’s Guide to Electoral Reform in British Columbia Jack MacDonald FCG Publications Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Copyright © 2005 by Jack MacDonald All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher. First published in 2005 by FCG Publications FCG Publications 2010 Runnymede Ave Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8S 2V6 E-mail: [email protected] Includes bibliographical references.
    [Show full text]
  • Cause and Effect in Political Polarization: a Dynamic Analysis*
    Cause and Effect in Political Polarization: A Dynamic Analysis * Steven Callander † Juan Carlos Carbajal ‡ July 23, 2021 Abstract Political polarization is an important and enduring puzzle. Complicating attempts at explanation is that polarization is not a single thing. It is both a description of the current state of politics today and a dynamic path that has rippled across the political domain over multiple decades. In this paper we provide a simple model that is consistent with both the current state of polarization in the U.S. and the process that got it to where it is today. Our model provides an explanation for why polarization appears incrementally and why it was elites who polarized first and more dramatically whereas mass polarization came later and has been less pronounced. The building block for our model is voter behavior. We take an ostensibly unrelated finding about how voters form their preferences and incorporate it into a dynamic model of elections. On its own this change does not lead to polarization. Our core insight is that this change, when combined with the response of strategic candidates, creates a feedback loop that is able to replicate many features of the data. We explore the implications of the model for other aspects of politics and trace out what it predicts for the future course of polarization. Keywords: Political Polarization, Electoral Competition, Dynamic Analysis, Behavioral Voters. *We have benefited from the helpful comments of Avi Acharya, Dave Baron, Gabriel Carrol, Char- lotte Cavaille, Dana Foarta, Jon Eguia, Gabriele Gratton, Andy Hall, Matt Jackson, Keith Krehbiel, Andrew Little, Andrea Mattozzi, Nolan McCarty, Kirill Pogorelskiy, an Editor, two anonymous refer- ees, and seminar audiences at Stanford GSB, University of Warwick, University of Sydney, LSE, the Econometric Society Summer Meetings, the Australasian Economic Theory Workshop, and the Aus- tralian Political Economy Network.
    [Show full text]
  • Unai Members List August 2021
    UNAI MEMBER LIST Updated 27 August 2021 COUNTRY NAME OF SCHOOL REGION Afghanistan Kateb University Asia and the Pacific Afghanistan Spinghar University Asia and the Pacific Albania Academy of Arts Europe and CIS Albania Epoka University Europe and CIS Albania Polytechnic University of Tirana Europe and CIS Algeria Centre Universitaire d'El Tarf Arab States Algeria Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma Arab States Algeria Université Ferhat Abbas Arab States Algeria University of Mohamed Boudiaf M’Sila Arab States Antigua and Barbuda American University of Antigua College of Medicine Americas Argentina Facultad de Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad de Buenos Aires Americas Argentina Facultad Regional Buenos Aires Americas Argentina Universidad Abierta Interamericana Americas Argentina Universidad Argentina de la Empresa Americas Argentina Universidad Católica de Salta Americas Argentina Universidad de Congreso Americas Argentina Universidad de La Punta Americas Argentina Universidad del CEMA Americas Argentina Universidad del Salvador Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Avellaneda Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Jujuy Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de la Pampa Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Quilmes Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Rosario Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero Americas Argentina Universidad Nacional de
    [Show full text]
  • 4.5 Algeria Airport Company Contact List
    4.5 Algeria Airport Company Contact List Airport Company Physical Address Email Phone Fax Description of Website Number Number Services (office) ALGIERS - Houari EGSA Alger Aéroport Houari Boumediene, Alger N/A 021 50 91 91 / 021 50 94 Public company www.egsa.dz Boumediene 021 50 91 00 72 managing the airports ALGIERS - Houari ENNA BP 73, Route des Dunes, Chéraga, Alger N/A +213 21 38 33 70 +213 21 38 National fuel www.naftal. Boumediene 19 19 company dz ALGIERS - Houari NAFTAL 1 Avenue de l’Indépendence - BP 383 – [email protected] / +(213) +213 21 38 Civil aviation agency enna.dz Boumediene Alger [email protected] 23 51 53 69 / 19 19 23 51 53 70 ORAN – Ahmed Ben Bella EGSA Oran EGSA Oran , Rond point de l'aéroport direction. +213 41 59 10 31 +213 41 Public company www. Es-Sénia Oran 31 000 , Algérie generale@egsaoran. to 40 59 10 77 managing the egsaoran. com airports com ADRAR - Touat-Cheikh Sidi EGSA Oran EGSA Oran , Rond point de l'aéroport direction. +213 41 59 10 31 +213 41 Public company www. Mohamed Belkebir Es-Sénia Oran 31 000 , Algérie generale@egsaoran. to 40 59 10 77 managing the egsaoran. com airports com ANNABA - Rabah Bitat EGSA Aéroport Mohamed Boudiaf, BP 582 RP, N/A +213 31 81 01 14 +213 31 81 Public company www.egsa- Constantine Constantine 25000, Algérie 00 01 managing the constantine. airports dz BEJAIA / Abane Ramdane EGSA Alger Aéroport Houari Boumediene, Alger N/A 021 50 91 91 / 021 50 94 Public company www.egsa.dz 021 50 91 00 72 managing the airports CONSTANTINE / Mohamed EGSA Aéroport Mohamed Boudiaf, BP 582 RP, N/A +213 31 81 01 14 +213 31 81 Public company www.egsa- Boudiaf Constantine Constantine 25000, Algérie 00 01 managing the constantine.
    [Show full text]
  • Desertification Detection Using an Improved Variational Autoencoder-Based Approach Through ETM-Landsat Satellite Data
    Desertification Detection using an Improved Variational AutoEncoder-Based Approach through ETM-Landsat Satellite Data Item Type Article Authors Zerrouki, Yacine; Harrou, Fouzi; Zerrouki, Nabil; Dairi, Abdelkader; Sun, Ying Citation Zerrouki, Y., Harrou, F., Zerrouki, N., Dairi, A., & Sun, Y. (2020). Desertification Detection using an Improved Variational AutoEncoder-Based Approach through ETM-Landsat Satellite Data. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 1–1. doi:10.1109/ jstars.2020.3042760 Eprint version Publisher's Version/PDF DOI 10.1109/JSTARS.2020.3042760 Publisher Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Journal IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing Rights This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Download date 02/10/2021 14:37:08 Item License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10754/666315 This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/JSTARS.2020.3042760, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing 1 Desertification Detection using an Improved Variational AutoEncoder-Based Approach through ETM-Landsat Satellite Data Yacine Zerrouki, Fouzi Harrou, Nabil Zerrouki, Abdelkader Dairi, Ying Sun, Abstract— The accurate land cover change detection is I. INTRODUCTION critical to improve landscape dynamics analysis and He need for environmental protection, monitoring, and mitigate desertification problems efficiently. Desertification Tsecurity is increasing over the last decades [1]. Accurate detection is a challenging problem because of the high land cover change detection (LCCD) is intertwined with several degree of similarity between some desertification cases and fields.
    [Show full text]
  • Q&·~.P!Lft 1!42·1992 SESQUICENTENNIAL E Observer Saintma~,Cd~NOTRE OAME•INDIANA VOL
    -Q&·~.P!lft 1!42·1992 SESQUICENTENNIAL e Observer SaintMa~,Cd~NOTRE OAME•INDIANA VOL. XXIV NO. 79 THURSDAY , JANUARY 23, 1992 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY'S Notre Dame football player arrested at local club By SANDY WIEGAND A lounge patron called the police Ridgley threw popcorn at Noonan. He encouraged Ridgley to leave, the report Associate News Editor department, and upon Noonan's arrival then said he was a friend of another said. told the officer two white males had owner, Dick Groth, swore at the officer Noonan told Ridgley he was under Notre Dame student and football "threatened him and threw popcorn all and refused to leave. arrest, and placed a handcuff on his player Troy Ridgley was arrested early over him," Noonan said in the report. Ridgley then asked to see Groth, who right wrist. Wednesday morning at a local lounge on Noonan then asked partial owner was not in the lounge, the report said. But Ridgley "began shaking his body charges of public intoxication, disorderly David Marozsan, who was behind the "Again he stated that I did not back and forth and extending his arms conduct and resisting law enforcement, bar, what the problem was. Marozsan di­ understand and that he was not out in an attempt not to be handcuffed," according to the South Bend Police rected him to the kitchen, and said the leaving," Noonan said. Noonan said, and "began moving Department. men were not supposed to be there. The officer then radioed for back-up towards the door." Ridgley, a 22-year old Sorin Hall Ridgley and Eric Jones, a 21-year-old units "due to the physical size and Back-up officer Cpl.
    [Show full text]
  • DECIPHERING ALGERIA: the STIRRINGS of REFORM? Relations in the Future
    EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN BRIEF POLICY RELATIONS ecfr.eu DECIPHERING ALGERIA: THE STIRRINGS OF REFORM? Andrew Lebovich Contemporary Algeria presents a puzzle for outside observers. Since the protests of the Arab Spring toppled SUMMARY governments in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, policymakers • Africa's largest country and an important and analysts have devoted increasing attention to Algeria,1 counterterrorism partner for the West since but have tended to see it in rather one-dimensional terms. 2001, Algeria has wrongly been seen as stagnant. Formerly regarded as a bulwark of regional stability, However, the country has gradually begun to Algeria is now more often described as a potential source open up amid a looming economic crisis and the of tension and conflict in the future, especially as the price security and political changes unleashed by the of oil – the bedrock of Algeria’s economy – remains at its Arab Spring and NATO intervention in Libya. lowest levels in more than a decade.2 Algeria has increased security cooperation • At the same time as Algeria faces a looming economic crisis, with its neighbours and reinforced its internal the country has been forced to deal with an increasingly security apparatus to respond to threats of hazardous regional security environment due to terrorist terrorism and instability from outside, as threats in Tunisia, insecurity and political breakdown exemplified by the 2013 In Amenas attack, in Libya following the 2011 NATO intervention, jihadist reportedly organised in north Mali and Libya. occupation and enduring civil conflict in northern Mali, • Algeria has also faced the risk of protest and and a continued flow of weapons, narcotics, people, and unrest as the country waits to see who will fuel across the Sahara.
    [Show full text]