COUNTRY IN PERSPECTIVE ALGERIA DLIFLC DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER 2019 COUNTRY IN PERSPECTIVE | ALGERIA Geography Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5 Geographic Divisions ................................................................................................. 6 The Tell ..................................................................................................................6 The High Plateaus and the Saharan Atlas Mountains ...................................7 Northeastern Algeria ...........................................................................................7 Topographical Divisions.............................................................................................. 8 Sahara Desert ......................................................................................................8 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 9 Bodies of Water ...........................................................................................................10 Rivers ...................................................................................................................10 Major Cities ..................................................................................................................11 Algiers .................................................................................................................. 12 Oran ..................................................................................................................... 13 Blida .....................................................................................................................13 Constantine .........................................................................................................14 Annaba ................................................................................................................15 Environmental Concerns ...........................................................................................15 Natural Hazards ..........................................................................................................16 Endnotes for Chapter 1: Geography ........................................................................18 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 22 History Introduction ................................................................................................................. 23 Early History ............................................................................................................... 24 The Phoenicians ........................................................................................................ 25 The Roman Empire Era (148 BCE – 429 CE) ...................................................... 25 The Vandals (429–533) ............................................................................................ 26 Byzantine and Rome (533–700) ............................................................................. 26 Arab Conquests and the Spread of Islam (642–1500) ........................................ 26 The Amazigh Dynasties ........................................................................................... 27 Spanish Enclaves (1505–1800) ............................................................................... 27 Barbary Pirates and the Barbary Wars (1800–1816) .......................................... 28 French Colonialism (1830–1962) ............................................................................ 29 Rise of Nationalism ...........................................................................................30 The War of Independence (1954–1962) ........................................................ 31 Independence ............................................................................................................. 32 The Boumédienne Era (1965–1978) ...................................................................... 33 Chadli Bendjedid (1979–1992) ................................................................................ 33 2 COUNTRY IN PERSPECTIVE | ALGERIA Sliding Toward Crisis (1980s) .................................................................................. 34 The Algerian Civil War (1992–2002) ...................................................................... 35 Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s presidency (1999–2019) ................................................... 35 Endnotes for Chapter 2: History .............................................................................. 38 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 43 Economy Introduction ................................................................................................................. 44 Agriculture ................................................................................................................... 45 Industry ....................................................................................................................47 Energy ........................................................................................................................ 48 Natural Resources ..................................................................................................... 49 Trade ............................................................................................................................ 50 Tourism ........................................................................................................................ 52 Banking and Finance ............................................................................................... 52 Standard of Living ...................................................................................................... 54 Employment ................................................................................................................ 55 Outlook ........................................................................................................................ 55 Endnotes for Chapter 3: Economy .......................................................................... 56 Assessment .................................................................................................................61 Society Introduction ................................................................................................................. 62 Ethnic and Linguistic Groups ................................................................................... 63 Languages .................................................................................................................. 64 Religion ........................................................................................................................ 65 Cuisine ......................................................................................................................... 66 Traditional Dress ........................................................................................................ 67 Gender Issues ............................................................................................................ 68 Arts ............................................................................................................................... 70 Music....................................................................................................................70 Literature .............................................................................................................70 Film ...................................................................................................................... 71 Sports and Recreation .............................................................................................. 72 Endnotes for Chapter 4: Society ..............................................................................74 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 78 Security Introduction ................................................................................................................. 79 U.S.-Algerian Relations ............................................................................................ 80 Relations with Neighboring Countries ...................................................................81 3 COUNTRY IN PERSPECTIVE | ALGERIA Morocco ..............................................................................................................81 Mali .......................................................................................................................83 Mauritania ...........................................................................................................83 Niger ....................................................................................................................84 Libya.....................................................................................................................84 Tunisia ................................................................................................................85 Police .........................................................................................................................