J N C Hill explores the multiple causes of two decades of profound political change social and economic upheaval and bitter conflict in postindependence Algeria Hill focuses on the relationship between identity and sociopolitical stability as he examines the trajectory of Algerian nation building How did French colonization and the war of liberation transform Algerian identities How has the contestation of national identity contributed to the instability that emerged in the late 1980s What part has the rise of Islamism and Berberism played What has been the role of foreign actors Addressing these questions as well as theimpact of the September 11 terrorist attacks Hill argues that how the Algerian government defines the nation is inextricably linked to its ability now and in the future to maintain political and social stability