The Battlefield: Algeria 1988-2002, Studies in a Broken Polity

by Hugh Roberts

The violence that has ravaged Algeria has often defied explanation. Regularly invoked in debates about political Islam, transitions to democracy, globalization, and the right of humanitarian interference, Algeria’s tragedy has been reduced to a clash of Islamists vs. a secular state, terrorists vs. innocent civilians, or generals vs. a defenseless society. The prevalence of such simplistic representations has disabled public opinion inside as well as outside the country and contributed to the intractability of the conflict.

This collection of essays offers a radical corrective to Western misconceptions. Rejecting the usual tautological approaches of inherent, predetermined conflict, Hugh Roberts explores the outlook and evolution of the various internal forces as they emerged—the Islamists, the Berberists, the factions within the army, and the regime in general—and he looks at external interests and actors. He explains their strategies and the maneuvers in which they have engaged. The resulting analyses illuminate the startling dynamics of the conflict and the real issues at stake, and identify the implications not only for Algeria but also for this crucial region.

Informed by a deep knowledge of Algeria and Algerian history, these accessible essays guide the reader through the extraordinary politics of the drama in all its complexity.

Genres: History, Algeria, Nonfiction, Africa, Northern Africa, Historical, Politics

408 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2003

About the author

Hugh Roberts is the Edward Keller Professor of North African and Middle Eastern history at Tufts University. His most recent books are The Battlefield: Algeria 1988-2002 and Berber Government: The Kabyle Polity in Pre-Colonial Algeria.

Reviews

[Alek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely shouldn't be your first Algeria read as it assumes some background, but this is the real deal. Very strong analysis that changed how I think about Algerian politics. Desperate to know what he thinks about events since 2002.

[Khoumri Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its good

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on French/Algerian relations over the last 20 years. We don't hear a lot about what's going on (in the Maghreb) in the U.S., but there are some serious problems they have to deal with over there.

[John Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needs an update with recent protest but enjoyed the articles.