Since the Spanish withdrawal from their Saharan colonies in 1975, a determined guerrilla war was fought against the Moroccans by the Polisario who claimed the territory as their rightful country. This war, which also involved Mauritania, threatened to involve Morocco and Algeria in open conflict and could lead to a much more serious conflict within the Arab World.

First published in 1980, The Western Saharans looks at the background to the conflict and provides a comprehensive economic, political, and social portrait of the key constituents: Mauritania, the Spanish Sahara, Morocco, and the Polisario Front. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of politics and history.

About the Author

Virginia Thompson and Richard Adloff were acknowledged authorities on African affairs and published extensively on the region.

Reviews

Reviews of the first publication:

'... this is an important and interesting book, a welcome addition to the sparse literature on the area.'

- Peter Sluglett, International Affairs, Volume 57, Issue 3

'Virginia Thompson and Richard Adloff provide useful insights into the political and social history of each of the four North-West African states, especially during the colonial and post-colonial periods.'

- F. Ugboaja Ohaegbulam, The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 22, No. 4

Book Information
ISBN 9781041070818
Author Virginia Thompson
Format Hardback
Page Count 350
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd