A West African nation with an extremely rich political and cultural heritage, Senegal continues to serve as a role model for Francophone Africa despite its weak economic base and small population. Sheldon Gellar begins his exploration of Senegal by examining the influence of Islam, Western imperialism, and French colonial rule.

Sheldon Gellar is senior research associate at the Harry S. Truman Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

1 THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3 THE ECONOMY, 4 SENEGAL AND HE WORLD 5 CULTURE AND SOCIETY 6 TOWARD THE YEAR 2000: WHITHER SENEGAL?