This book shows how family affinities and community loyalties at the foundation of Madagascar's culture have influenced Malagasy nationalism and forged islandwide traditions. It explores the complex challenges facing Madagascar's resurgent democratic forces.

The five island societies of the Western Indian Ocean-Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Comoros, and the French Overseas Department of Reunion-have retained distinctive national characters while cultivating regional cohesion and the establishment of a Zone of Peace. In this study, Dr. Allen places the nations of the maritime Latin Quarter

I thank Peter Duignan for suggesting that the book be done and The Hoover Institution on War, Peace, and Revolution for a grant that facilitated the early stages of research. Other grant funds were generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and by Johnson State College, which also allowed me to run off with the stipend on academic leave. I obtained invaluable advice and access to special resources at the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches des Pays de l'Ocean lndien (CERSOI) at the Universite d'Aix-Marseille in Aix*en*Provence and at the Centre de Documentation et de Recherches sur I' Asie du Sud-Est et le Monde lnsulindien (CeDRASEMI) in Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France; particular thanks go to President Louis Favoreu, Professor Jean Benoist, Marc Besson and Mme. Besson at Aix. Similar courtesies were extended by Mme. Lauret at the Centre de Documentation de l'Ocean Indien at St. Denis in La Reunion and by archivists and librarians in all of the islands, France, the United States, and Montreal. Thanks go to Paul Gallagher and to Linda Kramer of the Johnson State College Library for finding and smoothing paths.