The French State Faced with the Algerian Nationalists (1954–1962): A War against Terrorism?

Abstract

During its last colonial war (Algeria, 1954–1962), France was a democracy that was very much torn between conflicting forces. The foundational values of its modern history (that originated in the French Revolution) and of its recent history (stemming from its victory over Nazism—at least as far as Resistance forces were concerned—and from its new regime, the Fourth Republic), were weakened by the challenges it was facing in its Algerian départements.¹ Indeed, nationalism had become so influential there that it had become difficult to maintain the myth of a peaceful French Algeria. In fact, as early as the end of World War II, the colonial power had experimented with different administrative and legal adjustments; this met with strong opposition from the Français d’Algérie (French settlers or colonists in Algeria)² and increased the Algerians’ resentment.