商品詳細

Independence from colonial rule did not usher in the halcyon days many North Africans had hoped for, as the new governments in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria soon came to rely on repression to reinforce and maintain power. In response to widespread human rights abuses, individuals across the Maghrib began to form groups in the late 1970s to challenge the political practices and structures in the region. Over time, these groups became prominent political actors working for reform. This study explores the ability of society, including Islamist forces, to challenge the powers of states. Locating Maghribi polities within their cultural and historical contexts, the book traces state-society relations in the modern age. The human rights groups examined challenge the authoritarian basis of political government, and, although their efforts have not yet led to the democratic transition many had hoped, they have made human rights a crucial issue in North African politics.