Algeria in Transition: Reforms and Development Prospects(Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics)

For more than a decade, Algeria has been experiencing one of the most difficult periods in its post-independence history. Throughout, attempts have been made at political and economic reforms. And until recently, the conduct of these structural reforms proved very slow and of limited scale. The end result has is a multidimensional crisis represented by a paralysed political system, a stagnant economy and deteriorating social conditions. Aware of the implications of being left behind, in a world characterised by increasing globalisation, the new leadership (from 1999) has voiced its strong commitment to continue and deepen the process of restructuring and pledged its determination to speed up its implementation as well. This marks a significant departure from former policies. Algeria in Transition surveys what has been achieved since; what remains to be done; and the challenges lying ahead. It addresses key issues - ranging from political reforms and stability, external relations, social conditions to integration in the world economy - facing Algeria during this phase of transition to democratic rule and market economy. This book, by providing an up-to-date, systematic analytical account on transformations in Algeria, makes a valuable contribution to the literature on this country that has not yet received much attention in the Anglo-American academy. Its distinctive feature is that it entirely focuses on Algeria, thus departing from existing studies dealing with the entire geographical area of North Africa or the Maghreb.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART I: POLITICAL ECONOMY: GENERAL AND SECTORAL INSIGHTS 1 Political Contexts and Economic Policy in Algeria: Some Theoretical Considerations and Problems 2 Algeria: Economic Structure, Performance and Policy, 1950–2000 3 Implications of Algeria’s WTO Accession 4 The Euro-Algerian Relationship: A Review of its Development 5 Economic Reforms and Foreign Direct Investment in Algeria 6 Algeria’s Agriculture: Policy Reforms and Achievements 7 Restructuring and Privatization in Algeria 8 The Algerian Capital Market: Investment Opportunities PART II: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES 9 The Dialectics of Algeria’s Foreign Relations, 1992 to the Present 10 Bouteflika and the Challenge of Political Stability 11 The 2002 Algerian Parliamentary Elections: Results and Significance 12 Demographic Transition, Population Trends and Social and Environmental Conditions in Algeria 13 The Algerian Immigrant Community in Europe

About the Author :
Ahmed Aghrout, Redha. M Bougherira