Historical Dictionary of Algeria

by Phillip C. Naylor

Overview

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is the second largest country in Africa. This, coupled with its location near Europe and its prized hydrocarbons (oil and gas), continues to increase Algeria's international importance. Algeria's fight for liberation from French colonialism, which it finally achieved in 1962, was made famous by Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1966) and stands as an inspiration for many nearby countries. However, recent violence caused in part by ideological rivalry between a declining socialism and rising Islamism, illustrates post-colonial peril and tragedy. Today, Algeria endeavors to reconcile its past with its present. The third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Algeria has undergone extensive and substantial changes since previous editions, especially taking into account Algeria's civil strife of the 1990s and the country's controversial re-institutionalization and re-democratization. This is accomplished by means of a chronology, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, an introductory essay, maps, black&white photos, economic tables and statistics, appendixes, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places, and events.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810864801
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/05/2006
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Africa , #102
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	640
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Phillip C. Naylor is associate professor of history at Marquette University. He is the author of France and Algeria: A History of Decolonization and Transformation (2000).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Editor's Foreward
Chapter 2 Acknowledgments
Chapter 3 Reader's Note
Chapter 4 Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chapter 5 Maps
Chapter 6 Chronology
Chapter 7 Introduction
Chapter 8 THE DICTIONARY
Chapter 9 Appendix A: French Governors of Colonial Algeria
Chapter 10 Appendix B: Revolutionary Organizations and National Governments
Chapter 11 Appendix C: Selected Name Changes since Independence
Chapter 12 Appendix D: Tables
Chapter 13 Glossary
Chapter 14 Bibliography
Chapter 15 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Naylor delivers a concise, informative resource that updates earlier editions and provides information critical for students, scholars, and general readers researching Algeria. Despite their proximity to Europe, the countries of North Africa are not well known. Algeria was a major player in Africa's liberation from colonial rule, setting an example for decolonizing African nations in the 1960s. With its high literacy rate and economic growth, Algeria has become a place of great interest to scholars and students alike. Released in the wake of events referred to as the ‘Arab Spring,’ Naylor's revision comes at an opportune time, since Algeria is once again a beacon of stability and economic success. The dictionary follows the publisher's typical format with a time line for quick reference of dates and events. An introductory essay provides the detailed description of sequences of events featured in the compilation. Hundreds of alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced entries describe important people, places, issues, and events in the nation's history, covering politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture; the bibliography is likewise arranged under broad subjects. Coverage spans every era, from the earliest human settlements to the present, highlighting such developments as French colonization, the growth of nationalism, and the national war of liberation. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; general readers.

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