6_2.05 North Africa

Challenges in North Africa

Economic Issues

• Government has tight control of businesses.

• Income from oil discovered in Libya did not help most people

• Algeria tried to shift economy away from sale of oil and natural gas

• Morocco's economy is diverse - mix of different businesses

  • mining, manufacturing, farming, tourism

  • However -- widespread poverty and unemployment

Economic Issues

As a result ...

• People have left the region for Europe to look for jobs

• Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia have lost the most people

Open Ended

Why might Morocco’s economy be more stable than the economies of other North African countries?

Social Issues

• High population growth in Libya and Egypt

• Inadequate health care

• Poverty

• Large population 14 years old or younger!

• Literacy (ability to read and write) - Libya has the highest literacy rate - 89% - but it's much lower in other North African countries

  • Morocco - only about 50% can read/write, less for women

Social Issues

As a result ...

Gap in literacy, poverty, high population, lack of health care affects countries to build strong economies.

Open Ended

What might happen in North Africa if young people grow impatient with the slow rate of economic growth? Why?

North Africa's Future

Social movements have led to major political changes in 3 countries; put pressure on governments of 2 countries.

Political Issues

• Push for democracy

  • frustration with leaders who are more focused on their own power than building the economy

  • people who criticize are treated harshly

Political Issues

• Increase in Islamic fundamentalism

  • Strict Muslims want end to Western influence on their culture

  • Political unrest has left things uncertain

Egypt

• Began writing a new constitution in 2012

  • set of rules for the nation and its government

  • could give more power to the parliament (makes laws)

  • not clear how well this will work or who will be in control

Algeria

• Conflict with Islamist groups, government, forces

  • thousands have died in the fighting

  • have had to promise to reform political system

Lybia

• Working on making a new government

  • needed to rebuild after their civil war

  • leaders wanted self-rule in their part of the country, even though they said they didn't want to divide or keep their oil wealth for themselves

  • possible continued conflict

Multiple Choice

What happened to the Qaddafi government in Libya in 2011?

• it remained in control of the country

• it relocated to a new capital

• it forged an alliance with Egypt

• it fell out of power

Multiple Choice

What happened in Libya after the fall of Qaddafi? Check all that apply.

• They wanted to divide the country into two parts after their civil war

• oil-rich eastern Libya wanted self-rule even though they didn't want to divide the country

• they wanted to keep the oil money to themselves

• They solved their differences

Relations with other nations

​Israel	​United States
​Egypt signed peace treaty with Israel (1979)	​Egypt has close ties with US since treaty with Israel Morocco has close relations with US; criticized by their government Will new governments reject ties to the US?

Multiple Choice

What is A?

• Algeria

• Egypt

• Libya

• Morocco

• Tunisia

Multiple Choice

What is B?

• Algeria

• Egypt

• Tunisia

• Morocco

• Libya

Multiple Choice

What is D?

• Algeria

• Egypt

• Tunisia

• Libya

• Morocco

Multiple Choice

What is E?

• Algeria

• Egypt

• Tunisia

• Libya

• Morocco

Multiple Choice

What is C?

• Algeria

• Morocco

• Tunisia

• Libya

• Egypt

OMHS - 2.05 Quiz