 For most of Algeria's political history, the socialist orientation of the state precluded the development of a class of small business owners, and resulted in strong, public, anti-capitalist sentiment.Economic liberalization under Benjedid transformed many state-owned enterprises into private entities, and fostered the growth of an active and cohesive group of professional associations of small business owners, or patronat.The patronat, which consists of well over 10,000 members and counting, has strongly supported government reforms, and has persisted in its lobbying efforts.