The five nations of the Maghreb – Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia – have a common history and culture; face similar development, security and political challenges; and are presented with the same opportunities. Yet despite their common interests and strategic possibilities, the five nations continue to act in isolation of each other in a regional and global environment that increasingly requires political cooperation, policy coordination and economic unity to attract foreign investors and establish viable and diversified markets. The Arab Maghreb Union, established in 1989 to facilitate inter-Maghrebi cooperation, has become a major disappointment and its activities have been frozen for almost two decades. This lecture examines why the five countries have lagged behind the global movement toward regional economic cooperation and integration and focuses on the underlying political dynamics.