Examines land tenure and food security problems in an historical context, and evaluates the effects of rural development policies in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. Using case studies, it explores the successes and failures of development policies between 1960 and 1990.

The development of North Africa is a neglected subject. Within an historical context, the book examines land tenure and food security problems, and evaluates the effects of rural development policies in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. Drawing from case studies and 40 years of first-hand experience, the author explores the successes and failures of development policies in reducing inequalities, alleviating poverty, curbing food insecurity, and in increasing agricultural growth in the years between 1960 and 1990. Dr El-Ghonemy explores two major issues in current North African rural development. The first is the impact of the micro-economic adjustment programme introduced by the World Bank and IMF. The second is the impact of the vigorous revival of Islamic fundamentalism on policies that address distributive fairness and governmental tolerance of exploitation and corruption. This text is suitable for rural development students, policymakers and Middle East scholars.

The conceptual issues
a regional perspective of rural development problems
transformation of the rural economy - Algeria and Tunisia
contrasting rural development strategy - Morocco and Libya
food insecurity in the Nile Valley - Egypt and Sudan
growth and equity in rural development - an inter-country comparison
challenges and dilemmas.