Along with my series on modern orientalism I will also be
writing about Western Sahara. Western Sahara is an interesting place with an
even more interesting history. Originally Inhabited by the Berber Speaking
peoples, present day Western Sahara was been shaped a lot by Islam. Islam came
across North Africa after the Arab conquest. Since the Arab expansion and
empirical rule, North Africa has been a defined by the mix of Arab and Berber
cultures. During one of the most interesting periods of time, the colonial
period, Spain claimed Western Sahara as part of its territorial possessions. In the north the country of Morocco later
came under Spanish rule as well. Morocco had large influencing from a strong
French protectorate as well. The Spanish rule of Western Sahara would change
drastically during the mid-20th century, starting with Moroccan independence
in the 1950s.
Further loss of Spanish colonies continued in the 1970s when the Spanish
began to promise a possible established independent Western Sahara. Instead the
countries of Mauritania and Morocco established a joint rule over the area
because of historic claims. From here the Moroccan troops invaded and now
control the region. With Algeria stepping in to support independence of the
Sahrawi people (the Polisaro front). After the mid-1970s a number of small
diplomatic changes occur which I will emphasize later. In the future I will
begin to address the idea of whether or not Western Saharans could be on a
tract for statehood or if they are left behind in an old colonial system.
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