Democratic Struggles in Algeria

1
Democratic Struggles in Algeria
2
Algeria as Pride of Arab World Late 70s-Early
80s

• leading player in OPEC
• hostage mediator in Iran and Lebanon
• promoted Euro-Arab dialogue

3
Turning Point 1991 Elections

• economic hardship-social unrest
• constitutional changes allow more open-voting
• first round FIS party (Islamists) overwhelming
  winners
• second round cancelled

4
Plunging into Chaos

• FIS leaders/supporters jailed
• rebel militant groups emergetake up arms
• civilians targeted
• Army accused of own atrocities

5
Civil Conflict The Human Cost

• 150,000 dead
• thousands missing
• sharp decline in quality of life

6
Inching Toward Stability

• gradual decline in violence
• militants offered amnesty
• most militant groups have disbanded
• no more than 1,000 militants still fighting

7
Future Challenges

• poverty
• housing shortages
• restless youth
• high unemployment
• questionable future for democracy