World Infopaedia: Algeria (Volume 10 of World Infopaedia)

399 Pages·2007·18.05 MB·English

by  Board Of Editors

WORLD infopaedia:
ALGERIA
Pragun Publication
WORLD infopaedia
ALGERIA
Pragun Publication
(D.K. Publishers Distributors Enterprise)
4224/1, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002
Ph: 91-11-41562573-77 Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] www.dkpd.com
Published by:
Pragun Publication
4224/1, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002
Phones: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
visit us at: www.dkpd.com
Pragun Publication is an enterprise of DK Publishers Distributors, engaged
in distribution and pUblishing for more than three decades. Its mission'and
objective is to make Indian publications widely available among the
consumers both in India and abroad through its countrywide distribution
outreach.
First Published 2007
ISBN 81-89645-46-3 (Set)
81-89645-67-6
© Publishers
Published in India and Printed at:
liP Printers, New Delhi-110015 Mobile: [phone]
Publisher
Parmil Mittal
Editorial Coordinator
M.H. Syed
Editors
AK. Saxena
AM. Bagulia
AZ. Bukharl
Arif Ali Khan
Ashok Pachaurl
B.o. Usmani
B.M. Lal
Gian Chand
Jagmohan Negi
Kamlesh Gupta
Kapil Dev
MA Khan
M.M. Sury
Madhurendra Kumar
Manohar Purl
Muhammad Ilyas
Naseem Ahmed
P.K. Joshi
S.K. Chaturvedi
S.K. Sharma
Seema Sharma
Sumit Sethi
Sandeep Sury
Usha Chaturvedi
Usha Purl
Vishal Sethi
,
Contents
Preface ix
Algeria at a Glance xi
1. Introduction 1
History • People • Physical Features • Economy
2. Salient Features 5
Wonderful Country • Amazing Land • Magnificent
Country • Trends
3. History 13
Historical Setting • Carthaginans and the Berbers
• Roman Era • Vandals and Byzantines • Islam and
Arabs • Ottoman Rule • European Offensive • France
in Algeria • Independent Nation • Ben Bella's Regime
• Boumedienne's Regime • Chadli Bendjedid and
Afterwards • Unrest and Civil War • Events at a Glance
4. Geography 83
Topography • Geographic Regions • Land • Terrain
• The Tell • Vegetation • Animal Life • Climate
• Drainage • Soils
5. Society 97
Social Setup • Revolution and Social Change
• Towards a Modern Society • Principal Cities
• Settlement Patterns • Demographic Trends • Family
Planning • Migration • Urbanisation and Density
(vi)
• Arabisation • Social Welfare • People and Society
• Civil Society • Family and Household • Lifestyles
• Daily Life and Social Customs • Habitats and
Housing • Health • Recreation • Hotspots • Holidays
6. Religion 137
Islam • Religious Minorities
7. Heritage and Culture 143
Culture • World Heritage Sites • National Parks
• Bibliographical Province • Cities of the M'Zab
• Kasbah of Algiers • Libraries and Museums
8. Art and Architecture 163
The Backdrop • The Arts • Archaeology • Ghardaia
Mosque
9. Education 175
An Overview • The Background • Reform of
Education System • Primary Education • Secondary
Education • Higher Education • Non-university/
Professional Higher Education • Teacher Training
10. Language and Literature 197
Various Languages • Arabic • Berber • Romance
Languages • Sign Languages • Phoenician • Turkish
• Literature
11. Economy 213
Economic Activity • Development Planning
• Government's Role • Commerce and Trade • Budget
• Public Finances • Investments • Foreign Aid
• Natural Resources and Energy • Industry • Labour
• Agriculture • Land Use • The Livestock • Fishing
• Forestry • Transportation and Telecommunications
12. Polity 255
Political Environment • Political Structure and
Processes • Executive Power • Presidential System
(vii)
• Structure of National Government • Executive and
Legislature • Regional Governments • Municipal
Bodies • High Council of State • Political Parties • The
Elite • Islamist Factors • Electoral System • Effective
Institutions • Foreign Policy • Judicial System • Prison
Conditions • National Security • Armed Forces
• Internal Security • Intelligence Agencies
13. Science and Technology 319
An Overview • Sector Reforms • Natural Gas
• Electricity • Disaster Management and New
Technologies • Marine Pollution
14. Sports 331
Sport Venues • Nation at the Olympics • National
Football Team • World Cup Record • African Nations
Cup Record • Clubs • Honours
15. Tourism 341
Sightseeing • Tourism Development • Characteristics
of Tourism • Design Strategy • Spatial Organisation
• Tourist Attractions • Excursions
Bibliography 349
Index 357

Preface
The world which we all live in came into existence some eighteen
thousand million years ago. As for the birth of this universe, there are
various theories. Of them, theory of the Big Bang is regarded to be the
most authentic one. According to it, a big single explosion took place,
which produced condensed material, and that has been expanding
continuously. This material is called galaxy/galaxies. Precisely, these
galaxies are the huge congregation of stars, which are held together by
the gravitational force.
Of these stars, our Sun is one and our Earth is one of its nine
planets. For the purpose of ease, the earth has been divided into several
parts--either dry or wet. The dry ones are known as continents. These
are seven in number. All but one (Antarctica) are inhabited and have
charming flora and fauna. A continent consists of different countries. For
instance, India lies in Asia, Egypt in Africa, France in Europe and US
in North America. Total number of countries, in the world, today is
nearly 200. Similarly, the waters have been divided into five oceans.
The 20th century world witnessed· a score of events; and some
major events in the last century were determining factors for a number
of people to let themselves off the fetters of slavery of centuries long
colonialism and enable themselves to declare their status as free nations
of the world. Colonial forces were shown doors by their inferior subjects
in the third world. In the running up process of imperialist expansion
and exploitation, the nations such as Germany, Italy and Japan were
left bereft of what they actually deserved and demanded. These disgruntled
nations steered the world to the two world wars, which took toll of crores
of lives and properties worth billions. Hiroshima and Nagasaki tasted
the wrath of atom bombs ever dropped in the world history. After the
wars, a new world order emerged. Britain's importance in this new world
order almost ceased to exist. The cold war between US and USSR
reigned over the world, till the beginning of 1990s, when the Soviet
Union finally got disintegrated.