Presented at 4 th Pecs African Studies Conference University of Pecs, Hungary June 9, 2016

Inspiration for this project Research proposal – government permission, sabbatical, publication possibility Research approach and logistics (i) extensive library research for over a year (ii) two and a half months on site visit (iii) Travel to several parts of the territory including the four major urban centers of Laayoune, Smara, Boujdour and Dakhla and many rural areas in between (iv) Visits to scores of facilities – schools, hospitals, cultural centers, residential complexes, economic projects, farms,

(v) Meetings with all sorts residents – native Saharaouis, immigrants from the north, students, businessmen/women, returnees/escapees from Tindouf, regime opponents, UN personnel, political figures. Data collection – from a wide range of sources Literature Magazines, newspapers Government offices Meetings with NGOs

Important dates in the recent history of the territory: (i) 1870s – 1975: Spanish colonization of the territory (ii) 1956: Morocco becomes independent and almost immediately launches its Greater Morocco campaign (iii) 1975: International Court of justice deliberates and rules on the dispute (iv) 1975: King Hasan organizes the Green March – al Massira (v) : Spanish withdrawal and transfer of the territory to

to Morocco and Mauritania (vi) : war between POLISARIO and Morocco/Mauritania (vii) 1991 – UN peace plan; cease-fire; referendum; intensification of Moroccan control