ABSTRACT
Niger's leaders and people have struggled to find acceptable options in a context that presents serious limitations on choice. Most Nigeriens will continue to earn their livelihood as farmers and herders for the foreseeable future, and the people of Niger must continue to rely on available groundwater supplies. The stress on Niger's Sahelian environment is already severe, and the region's capacity to produce crops and animals in a reliable fashion has been reduced. International political trends will have an impact on French domestic politics and the politics of other major actors and could affect Niger as well. Niger's major export is uranium, a commodity whose demand and value can be dramatically affected not only by political change and arms reductions but also by industrial growth and policy decisions in the developed countries. A more moderate Libya and a more stable Nigeria could go a long way toward lessening the military and economic stresses on Niger.
