The Invention of Decolonization: The Algerian War and the Remaking of France

by Todd Shepard

In this account of the Algerian War's effect on French political structures and notions of national identity, Todd Shepard asserts that the separation of Algeria from France was truly a revolutionary event with lasting consequences for French social and political life. For more than a century, Algeria had been legally and administratively part of France; after the bloody war that concluded in 1962, it was other—its eight million Algerian residents deprived of French citizenship while hundreds of thousands of French pieds noirs were forced to return to a country that was never home. This rupture violated the universalism that had been the essence of French republican theory since the late eighteenth century. Shepard contends that because the amputation of Algeria from the French body politic was accomplished illegally and without explanation, its repercussions are responsible for many of the racial and religious tensions that confront France today. In portraying decolonization as an essential step in the inexorable "tide of history," the French state absolved itself of responsibility for the revolutionary change it was effecting. It thereby turned its back not only on the French of Algeria—Muslims in particular—but also on its own republican principles and the 1958 Constitution. From that point onward, debates over assimilation, identity, and citizenship—once focused on the Algerian "province/colony"—have troubled France itself. In addition to grappling with questions of race, citizenship, national identity, state institutions, and political debate, Shepard also addresses debates in Jewish history, gender history, and queer theory.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Algeria, Africa, France, Grad School, European History

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2006

Reviews

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book about how the French when from considering Algeria as being 100% French to their reluctant acceptance of Algerian independence. It is VERY academic, particularly in the beginning where it is a bit philosophical in terms of how the intellectuals and philosophers of the left and right had to change their entire line of thinking from colonialist to post-colonialist.

For those unfamiliar with this unfortunate piece of history, France brutally colonized Algeria in the 1830s and made it an integral part of France. This is due to the rich mineral resources in the Sahara region, the source of cheap labor, and the prestige of having the largest colony in Africa. The principles of the Republic were not called into question in terms of segregation, etc because the country was considered French. Lots of French people moved there (I meet them or their children every day here in Paris) as colonizers and were given the curious nickname of "pieds noirs" (or "black feet"). Well, in the 50s, the Algerians saw other countries throwing off their colonial yokes and decided (particularly after the spectacular victory of the Vietnamese over the French in 1954) that they wanted a piece of freedom too and thus started the civil war around 1954. Brutal on both sides, there were actually three sides fighting: the French army loyal to France trying to keep the peace at first and later trying to escape, the GIA or Algerian Liberation Front of Algerians pushed by Islamic extremists into fighting for freedom, and the notorious OSS or the French Secret Army of the pieds noirs fighting for keeping Algeria under colonization. Needless to say, it was a confusing time. In 1958, there was a sort of coup d'erat (or change of government depending on what part of the political spectrum you are perceiving it from) where WWII hero Charles de Gaulle returned to power. He quickly realized that the Algerian project was doomed and prepared to pull the French out. However, that is where the sticky term of "decolonization" comes in.

Since the French had spent over 100 years preaching "égalité, liberté, fraternité" with respect to Algeria going as far as saying. "Algeria is France and France is Algeria", this complete reversal of mindset was a painful one. As I mentioned above, the colonists did not agree and militarily rose up in a dirty military and terroristic conflict which spilt over into Metropolitan France. More importantly as the book points out, how were the French going to sort out who was French and who wasn't after Algerian independence and the expected (although severely underestimated) exodus of people from Algeria into France following the end of the conflict? That was the most difficult transition for the French to make and brought all of the racism and divisiveness of colonial mentality to the forefront of French society where it remains until this day (just look at last year's election where the fascist, pied noir party the Front National was competing with outsider Macron for the Presidency).

The book does a great job particularly in the second half in describing the painful transition and the implications of carving up the Algerian population into racial groups - some of which maintained the right to remain French, but most of whom lost this previously fundamental right. As I said before, this is still a major issue in French society today and thus the book resonates still.

There remains a book to be written or a film shot about the fate of the harkis. These are the Algerians left behind after the French exodus of 1962-1963 that were brutally slaughtered in mass (studies count between 50k and 100k victims) in the aftermath. Little has been written about this period due probably to national shame to the fate of these people. To put it in perspective, it reminded me of the images of people hanging off of landing gear of helicopters lifting off out of Saigon in '73. The fate of those left and tortured or killed by the NVA was analogous to that of the harkis. Shepard mentions this in passing but I think it merits further work and study.

[Ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written fascinating account of the impact of Algeria upon France

[Anthony Zupancic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shepard suggests that decolonization is an invented concept that helped France rationalize the loss of Algeria in the way of the French-Algerian War. Its effects are troubling.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fear I was not smart enough to appreciate this one

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent, really foundational to understanding the paradigm shift that took place in the France in 1962. Simply put, France minus Algeria was not just territorially smaller but a different entity altogether.

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary French politics, French history, Algerian history, the history of colonialism and decolonization, the history of Muslims in France--there are just so many things to get out of this book.

This book was one of the main sources of my thesis and I heavily relied on it throughout the year. There are passages and chapters that I have read and reread probably a dozen or more times. It's just a really, really excellent book. (Also I apologize to my school library who will be getting back a significantly more worn out copy than the one I checked out at the beginning of the year.)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the casual reader but a useful look at the ways in which the end of the French Empire affected French identity

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A standard and well-written history of the French decolonial saga in Algeria and it’s effects on the broader cultural and economic framework within France

[Armistead B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written history which doesn't drag is always welcome. I'd recommend to anyone interested in French colonial history.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

kijk battle of algiers ook gelijk maar effe

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously, I had to read a number of these works on France for a class. This is a legal and to a lesser extent a political history of the Algerian conflict. Thoroughly researched and an intelligent work, it has received considerable attention lately. Overall, the book critiques the manner in which France exited Algeria, blaming its abrupt departure and the dismissal of practically all legal precedent at Evian for problems which have persisted in France concerning race and ethnicity.

Shepard makes some interesting points, although oddly I came away with a sense that he paints a healthier picture of Algeria under France than probably existed (that might derive from the study's focus on legal rather than social realities), and he seems to ignore the situation that de Gaulle faced from the moment he returned to power - the army was staging one coup attempt or another practically every other day. But Shepard isn't wrong to see problems with France's manner of leaving Algeria, although I'm just not sure that there wouldn't have been enormous problems no matter how France left.

Not a bad book, but not as coherently written as I might have liked, and there are numerous other books about Algeria that I would look at over this. Excellent for research purposes, however.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one should ever read this book. It is incredibly hard to read and by the time you decipher the words in each sentence, break down each sentence to come to an idea of what he's talking about, you forget what you were trying to understand. There are other books that would be better for understanding and learning about the decolonization of Algeria.

[l · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at how Algerians and the Algerian War were perceived in France and the effects of those changing perceptions.