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area 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 background 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 country, 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 government 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 prepared 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. v