A Country Study: Mauritania

• Mauritania
• Foreward
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Country Profile
  • Country
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Communications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Rachel Warner)
  • Early History
  • Sanhadja Confederation
  • Almoravids
  • Sudanic Empires and Kingdoms
  • Arab Invasions
  • Early European Contacts
  • French Colonial Administration
    • Pacification
    • French Colonial Policy
    • French Administration Through World War II
    • Postwar Reforms
    • The Road to Independence and the Quest for National Unity
  • Independence and Civilian Rule
    • Emerging Tensions
    • Time of Radicalization
  • Conflict in the Western Sahara
    • Background to Mauritanian Policy
      • The Moroccan Factor
      • Internal Factors
      • Madrid Agreements
    • Fighting the Desert War
      • Involvement of Foreign Countries
      • Overthrow of the Ould Daddah Regime
  • Military Withdrawal from the Western Sahara
  • Downfall of Ould Salek
  • The Haidalla Regime
    • Consolidation of Power
    • Political Disintegration

• Chapter 2 - The Society and its Environment (LaVerle Berry)
  • Physical Setting
    • Major Geographic and Climatic Zones
      • Saharan Zone
      • Sahelian Zone
      • Senegal River Valley
      • Coastal Zone
    • Expansion of the Desert
  • Population
  • Ethnic Groups and Languages
    • Maures
      • White Maure Nobility
    • Zenaga
      • Artisans and Entertainers
      • Black Maures
      • Maure Kinship and Marriage
    • Black Africans
      • Toucouleur
      • Fulbe
      • Soninké
      • Wolof
      • Bambara
  • Religious Life
    • Origins of Islam
    • Tenets of Islam
    • Brotherhoods and Saints
      • The Qadiriya
      • The Tijaniya
      • Marabouts
  • Changing Social Patterns
  • Education
    • Traditional Islamic Education
    • Modern Education
  • Health and Welfare
    • Medical Care
    • Housing

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Peter D. Coats)
  • Role of the Government
  • Fishing
  • Mining
    • Iron
    • Copper, Gypsym, Phosphates, and Oil
  • The Rural Economy
    • Herding
    • Farming
      • Crops
      • State Control Mechanisms
      • Land Tenure
  • Manufacturing and the Industry
  • Energy
  • Transportation and Communications
  • Trade
    • Exports
    • Imports
    • Direction of Trade
  • Banking and Government Finances
    • Banking
    • Government Finances
  • Balance of Payments, Debt, and Foreign Assistance

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Robert E. Handloff)
  • Political Culture
    • Attitudes Toward the Political System
    • Impediments to Change
  • Governmental Power
    • Constitution
    • Constitutional Charter
    • Legal System
    • Local Government
    • Local Elections
  • Political Power in the Mid-1980's
  • Interest Groups
    • Ethnic Minorities
    • Traditional Elites
    • Women
    • Trade Unions
  • Foreign Relations
    • Foreign Policy
    • Relations with France
    • Relations with Morocco
    • Relations with Other States of the Maghrib
    • Relations with Arab States
    • Relations with Communist States
    • Relations with the West
    • Relations with Other African States
    • International Organizations

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Kate Bullard)
  • External Security Perceptions and Policies
    • War in the Western Sahara
    • Regional Security Concerns
      • Morocco
      • Senegal
      • Libya
  • The Development of the Armed Forces
    • The Preindependence Period
    • The Independence Period and the French Military Legacy
  • The Armed Forces
    • Organization and Strength
      • The Army
      • The Navy
      • The Air Force
    • Manpower and Military Training Schools
    • Role of the Military in Society
    • Defense Budget and the Economy
    • Civic Action and Disaster Relief
    • Foreign Military Assistance
  • Public Order and Internal Security
    • Internal Security Forces
    • Law and Crime
    • Internal Security Threats

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary