Summary HY113 Algerian War of Independence Lecture/ Reading Notes
44 views 1 purchase
Course
HY113
Institution
London School Of Economics (LSE)
Lecture and reading notes on the Algerian War of Independence.
The Algerian War of Independence is a component of the HY113 module at LSE.
Notes are ideal for exam and assessment preparation.
Key Questions: Why was there violence? What was the nature of the violence? How and why
did violence end? How prevalent was torture and mob violence?
La Guerre D'Algérie Ou La Revolution = Algerian War for Independence; Independence is not
offered until 1962 (after many decades of bloodshed and war)
“A headlong rush to the brink of disaster followed by an outstanding victory”
During the conflict, approximately 1 million Algerian Muslims were killed and a further 1 million
European settlers were displaced (80,000 French soldiers were also killed)
Martha Hutchinson- Developments in Algeria during the Independence War went on to be a
blueprint for the tactics/ strategies of other terror organizations (such as Al-Qaeda, ANC etc)
General Paul Aussaresse (in Confessions pub. 2000): torture was damaging but necessary
Key Texts:
● J Byrne Mecca of Revolution: Algeria, Decolonization and the Third World (OUP,
2016)- places Algerian Independence struggle in a wider global context
● James McDougall A History of Algeria (2017)- C3, C4, C5
Key Arguments:
● Long durée = important factor with regards to violence, memory and the legacy of
French imperialism
● There was an absence of a strong/ restraining metropole which resulted in thwarted
attempts at nationalism; strong metropole would have also helped to moderate
Algerian political spectrum
● Violence in Algeria quickly became highly racialized
Origins of Extremism in Algeria:
● Franz Fanon: “native is ready for violence at all times...” (The Wretched of the Earth)
● McDougall: natives “always bore” “unlimited violence” and it was the role of settlers
to attempt to “punish” such “instincts”
● Colonialism failed; ‘civilizing mission’ did not bring much benefit or improvement to
the lives of ordinary Algerians; no cultural embrace of European ideas to moderate
extremism
● Francois Mitterand: “Algeria is France. France will recognize no authority other than
her own”; the existence of the French metropole was a persistent problem for
Algerian expressions of independence
● There is also a degree of blind hatred (almost reflective of certain integral aspects of
human nature? - link to JP Sartre?)
French imperialism in Africa:
● Personalized, an elite was based in Paris
● Empire mattered after 1945 both as a symbol of victory but also for security purposes
(France would not have withstood WW1 without the help of her colonies)
● Military and Empire were inseparable; Africa was the only continent that the French
military could effectively bully to demonstrate military strength
● Direct rule in Africa from Paris led to cultural racism; Africans were expected to
become French
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller moabir. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.19. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
