ABSTRACT
Many countries of emigration have distinct and differing policies toward the export of labor. The question of whether emigration “benefits” the countries or individuals concerned is to some extent a function of policy choices made by the government of the country of origin. After overthrowing Ahmed Ben Bella in 1965, the government of Houari Boumedienne began to implement a daring long-term strategy for the development of Algeria. The example of Algeria shows very clearly the extent to which emigration can produce a series of dilemmas and doubts for a government. The agricultural sector was neglected despite its significance for the majority of the Algerian population, which is predominantly rural. Algeria’s political objectives included the maintenance of stability and the transition to socialism. Emigration contributed to some extent to the maintenance of stability by defusing regional discontent. In September 1973, in an unprecedented move, the Algerian authorities suspended all new emigration to France.
