CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CURRENT CHALLENGES country‟s natural resources; and for the mode of development management inspired by the legitimate aspirations of its peoples. The system of governance at the political, economic, business, economic and social development level is therefore historically marked by the fundamental concerns and challenges that independent Algeria had to face. 65. Given this historical perspective, modern Algeria is marked by certain characteristics that are worth highlighting: At the political level, the war of independence fought by the Algerian peoples had impacted various domains, which was to be reflected in the predominant position of the FLN in political, economic and social choices. Similarly, the national liberation army played an important role as the backbone of the government‟s power, wielding an almost imperceptible influence in the management of public affairs. The war also raised the awareness of the broader mass of the Algerian population, arousing fierce patriotism, nationalism and a steely determination in the fight against all forms of domination and exploitation by foreign forces. It also gave rise to a heightened sense of statesmanship and sensitivity of the Algerian leadership to pan-Africanism, including energetic support of liberation movements in Africa, as witnessed by the prominent role played by Algeria in the creation and development of the Organisation of African Unity, the African Union and their historic initiatives, such as NEPAD, within the movement of non-aligned countries, favouring in particular the option for a new international economic order. 66. At the economic and social level, the government, which is responsible for the general situation in the country, was also solely responsible for economic and social progress, and hence for the country‟s development and the welfare of its population. The active construction of economic and social development, drawing on interventionism at the political level, constituted the basic principle for building a modern Algeria that could be economically prosperous and socially committed to the welfare of its citizens. It is for this reason that programmes for heavy industrialisation, educational democratisation, free health care, water supply, welfare housing policy, as well as the mobilisation of social forces, particularly workers and youth, were launched. 2.3 Paths, actions and results 67. After independence, modern Algeria went through a series of essentially political upheavals. Between 1962 and 1965, Ahmed Ben Bella was at the helm of the country; he was deposed in a military coup in 1965. Houari Boumedienne led the country until his death in 1978. Under the presidency of Chadli Bendjedid, who succeeded President Boumedienne, there was a political and economic crisis due to the collapse of world oil prices. The authorities also had to contend with the first popular movements created after independence. Given the “Berber Spring” of 1980, followed by Sétif riots in 43