Since the Spanish withdrawal from their Saharan colonies in 1975, a determined guerrilla war was fought against the Moroccans by the Polisario who claimed the territory as their rightful country. This war, which also involved Mauritania, threatened to involve Morocco and Algeria in open conflict and could lead to a much more serious conflict within the Arab World.

First published in 1980, The Western Saharans looks at the background to the conflict and provides a comprehensive economic, political, and social portrait of the key constituents: Mauritania, the Spanish Sahara, Morocco, and the Polisario Front. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of politics and history.