Volume 45, Number 7 · April 23, 1998
Algeria: The Horror
By Barbara Smith
The Islamist Challenge in Algeria: A Political History
by Michael Willis
New York University Press, 419 pp., $39.95
The Agony of Algeria
by Martin Stone
Columbia University Press, 274 pp., $16.50 (paper)
Unbowed: An Algerian Woman Confronts Islamic Fundamentalism
by Khalida Messaoudi, with Elisabeth Schemla, translated by Anne C. Vila
University of Pennsylvania Press, 184 pp., $14.95 (paper)
Ironically, the world has awakened to the horror of events in Algeria at a time when it may be too late to offer any constructive advice or to exert any political pressure on the current regime. A few years ago, the violence, which by now has killed many thousands of civilians, could be seen as having clear political origins. There were still some possible courses of action outsiders could recommend to the Algerian government. And, at the time, the regime was so divided over what policy to adopt toward dissident Islamic political groups that it is at least possible that some of Algeria's leaders could have been persuaded to listen. But nothing was even attempted. Outsiders, frightened by visions of an amorphous, vengeful Islamic movement and anxious to keep on the right side of the Algerian government, limply gave the regime the support it asked for.
Review, 4385 words
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