Why did "the domino effect" not reach Algeria? : limitations and prospects of socio-political transformation

The year 2011 will be one of the most memorable in the modern Arab history because of the wave of revolutions which led to the overthrow of long ruling autocrats in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya. Algeria is so far the only country in North Africa that has not experienced sustained mass protests calling for a political change. This paper intends to explain why the Arab Spring has not spread to Algeria? This question becomes apparent bearing in mind that Algeria shares the same explosive factors that have provoked mass revolutions in the neighbouring countries: corruption, disproportion in the regional development, pauperization of society and the lack of civil and political rights. There are several explanations for this "immunity to revolution". First - the fragmentation of Algerian opposition. Second - the fear of the return to the violence which Algerians have lived in for 50 years owing to two brutal conflicts - the war of independence and the civil war of the 90s. Third - the announcement of a raft of political and constitutional reforms by the present regime. Third - the announcement of a raft of political and constitutional reforms by the present regime. Finally, the social peace was brought by the promise to resolve Algeria's long-lasting economic problems starting with unemployment, the promise of implementation of the structural reforms and especially the direct and indirect transfers of public money (rise of salaries, subvention of basic commodities etc.)