A history of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967-1990), with implications for Yemen today.

Includes maps of: South Arabia in 1965 with Sultanates, Shaikdoms, and Main Tribes; People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, 1985.

Pt. A. From south Arabia to South Yemen. South Arabia in 1967 -- The National Liberation Front takes power -- From PRSY to PDRY via the glorious corrective move -- pt. B. The Salmin years. Structures and leadership in the early 1970s -- The PDRY's internal and external policies in the Salmin years -- Who leads, the president or the party? : the downfall of Salmin -- pt. C. The struggle for power. The presidency of Abd al-Fattah Ismaʻil and the formation of the Yemeni Socialist Party -- Ali Nasir Muhammad as supreme leader -- Policies in the Ali Nasir years -- pt. D. From the PDRY to the Republic of Yemen. Fracturing the regime : the events of January 1986 -- Unity or reform? -- Union without unity -- pt. E. Did the PDRY fail? Could an independent South Yemen return? -- Appendices. The principal tribes in Lahij, Abyan and Shabwa -- List of prominent personalities.