Mauritania and understandings of the historical, social, political and geostrategic trajectories of the country have suffered from a lack of in-depth study in the social sciences. Consequentially, interpretations lacking in rigour in terms of their social complexity have abounded. In order to break with the weak, clichéd and unsubtle analyses in this complex social space, this book brings together contributions from leading Mauritanian scholars engaged in a unique collaborative project with academics from outside the country. This book aims to bring new perspectives to the historically established disjuncture between the national and international environments, and local, regional and global factors.