The Western Saharans: Background to Conflict

by Virginia Thompson, Richard Adloff

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040389959
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/01/2025
Series:	Routledge Revivals
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	354

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Mauritania 2. The Spanish Sahara 3. Morocco 4. The Polisario Front and the Partition 5. The War’s Repercussions on Mauritania and Morocco Annex: Transfrontier Tribes

Editorial 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

From the Publisher