Table Of Contentarea handbook series
Algeria
a country study
Algeria
a country study
Federal Research Division
LibraryofCongress
Edited by
Helen Chapin Metz
Research Completed
December 1993
On the cover: A typical village scene, with market and
houses in the foreground and mosque in the back-
ground
Fifth Edition, First Printing, 1994
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-in-PublicationData
Algeria: a countrystudy / Federal Research Di—vision, Library
ofCongress; edited byHelen Chapin Metz. 5th ed.
p. cm.—(Areahandbookseries, ISSN 1057-5294)
(DAPam; 550-44)
"Supersedes the 1986 edition ofAlgeria: ACountry
—
Study edited byHarold D. Nelson." T.p.verso.
"Research completed December 1993."
Includes bibliographical references (pp. 295-311) and
index.
ISBN 0-8444-0831-X
1.Algeria. I. Metz, Helen Chapin 1928- . II. Libraryof
Congress. Federal Research Division. III. Series. IV.
Series: DA Pam; 550-44
DT275.A5771 1994 94-43019
965-dc20 CIP
Headquarters, Department ofthe Army
DA Pam 550-44
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments,U.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C.20402
Foreword
This volume is one in a continuing series ofbooks prepared
by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress
under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program spon-
sored bythe DepartmentoftheArmy. The last two pages ofthis
book list the other published studies.
Mostbooks in the series dealwith a particular foreign coun-
try, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and
national security systems and institutions, and examining the
interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are
shaped by cultural factors. Each study is written by a multidisci-
plinary team ofsocial scientists. The authors seek to provide a
basic understanding of the observed society, striving for a
dynamic rather than a static portrayal. Particular attention is
devoted to the people who make up the society, their origins,
dominant beliefs and values, their common interests and the
issues onwhich they are divided, the nature and extent oftheir
involvement with national institutions, and their attitudes
toward each other and toward their social system and political
order.
The books represent the analysis ofthe authors and should
not be construed as an expression of an official United States
government position, policy, or decision. The authors have
sought to adhere to accepted standards ofscholarly objectivity.
Corrections, additions, and suggestions for changes from read-
ers will be welcomed for use in future editions.
Louis R. Mortimer
Chief
Federal Research Division
Library ofCongress
Washington, D.C. 20540-5220
in
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the
writers ofthe 1985 edition ofAlgeria: A Country Study, edited
byHarold D. Nelson. Their workprovided general background
for the presentvolume.
The authors are grateful to individuals in various govern-
ment agencies and private institutions who gave of their time,
research materials, and expertise in the production of this
book. These individuals include Ralph K. Benesch, who over-
—
sees the Country Studies Area Handbook program for the
Department ofthe Army. The authors also wish to thank mem-
bers of the Federal Research Division staff who contributed
directly to the preparation of the manuscript. These people
include Sandra W. Meditz, who reviewed all drafts and served
as liaison with the sponsoring agency; Marilyn L. Majeska, who
managed editing and production; Andrea T. Merrill, who
edited tables and figures; Ramon Miro, who assisted with bib-
liographic research; Barbara Edgerton and Izella Watson, who
did word processing; and Stephen C. Cranton and David R
Cabitto, who prepared the camera-ready copy.
Also involved in preparing the text were Mimi Cantwell,
who edited chapters; Catherine Schwartzstein, who performed
the prepublication editorial review; and Joan C. Cook, who
compiled the index.
Graphics were prepared by David R Cabitto, and Tim L.
Merrill, assisted by Thomas Hall, prepared map drafts. David R
Cabitto and the firm ofGreenhorne and O'Mara prepared the
final maps. Special thanks are owed to Teresa Kamp, who pre-
pared the illustrations on the title page ofeach chapter and the
cover art.
Finally, the authors acknowledge the generosity ofthe Alge-
rian Embassy in Washington and the other government and
private bodies and individuals who allowed their photographs
to be used in this study.
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