Algeria Since 1989: Between Terror and Democracy (Global History of the Present)

269 Pages·2010·1.51 MB·English

by  James D. Le Sueur

global history of the present
Series editor | Nicholas Guyatt
In the Global History of the Present series, historians address the
upheavals in world history since 1989, as we have lurched from the
Cold War to the War on Terror. Each book considers the unique
story of an individual country or region, refuting grandiose claims
of “the end of history,” and linking local nar ratives to international
developments.
Lively and accessible, these books are ideal introductions to the
contemporary politics and history of a diverse range of countries.
By bringing a historical perspective to recent debates and events,
from democracy and terrorism to nationalism and globalization,
the series challenges assumptions about the past and the present.
Published
Thabit A. J. Abdullah, Dictatorship, Imperialism and Chaos: Iraq
since 1989
Timothy Cheek, Living with Reform: China since 1989
Alexander Dawson, First World Dreams: Mexico since 1989
Padraic Kenney, The Burdens of Freedom: Eastern Europe since 1989
Stephen Lovell, Destination in Doubt: Russia since 1989

Alejandra Bronfman, On the Move: The Caribbean since 1989
Nivedita Menon and Aditya Nigam, Power and Contestation: India
since 1989
Hyung Gu Lynn, Bipolar Orders: The Two Koreas since 1989
Bryan McCann, The Throes of Democracy: Brazil since 1989
Mark LeVine, Impossible Peace: Israel/Palestine since 1989
James D. Le Sueur, Algeria since 1989: Between Terror and
Democracy
Forthcoming
Kerem Oktem, Turkey since 1989: Angry Nation
Nicholas Guyatt is lecturer in American history at the University
of York.
About the author
James D. Le Sueur received his PhD from the
University of Chicago. He is the author of Uncivil
War: Intellectuals and Identity Politics during the
Decolonization of Algeria and the editor of several
books, including The Decolonization Reader
and the critically acclaimed English translation
of Mouloud Feraoun’s Journal, 1955–1962:
Reflections on the French–Algerian War. A leading
authority on Algerian and French history, his work
investigates a broad range of subjects, including
colonial and postcolonial history and theory. He is
currently filming a documentary and completing
a book about exiled writers from Muslim-majority
countries in Europe and North America. He is

professor of history at the University of Nebraska,
Lincoln.
Algeria since 1989: Between
terror and democracy
James D. Le Sueur

Fernwood Publishing
halifax | winnipeg
Zed Books
london | new york
Algeria since 1989: Between terror and democracy was first published in 2010
Published in Canada by Fernwood Publishing Ltd, 32 Oceanvista Lane,
Site 2a, Box 5, Black Point, Nova Scotia b0j 1b0
<www.fernwoodpublishing.ca>
Published in the rest of the world by Zed Books Ltd, 7 Cynthia Street, London
n1 9jf, uk and Room 400, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, ny 10010, usa
<www.zedbooks.co.uk>
Copyright © James D. Le Sueur 2010
The right of James D. Le Sueur to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act, 1988
Set in OurType Arnhem and Futura Bold by Ewan Smith, London
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Cover designed by Andrew Corbett
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocop ying or otherwise, without the prior permission of Zed
Books Ltd.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data available
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication:
Le Sueur, James D.
Between terror and democracy : Algeria since 1989 / James D. Le Sueur.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-1-55266-256-4
1. Algeria--History--1990- 2. Algeria--Politics and government--1990-
I. Title.
dt295.6.l48 2007 965.05’4 c2007-905184-7
isbn 978 1 84277 724 4 hb
isbn 978 1 84277 725 1 pb
isbn 978 1 84813 535 2 eb (Zed Books)
isbn 978 1 55266 256 4 pb (Fernwood Publishing)
Contents
Acknowledgments | vi
Chronology | viii The principals | xxi
Abbreviations and acronyms | xxv
Map | xxviii
Introduction: democratic reform, terrorism, and
reconciliation | 1
1 Building a postcolonial state | 11
2 The road to reform | 31
3 The kingmakers: generals and presidents in a time of
terror | 53
4 The Bouteflika era: civil society, peace, and sidelining
generals | 74

5 Energy and the economy of terror | 98
6 A genealogy of terror: local and global jihadis | 122
7 The future of radical Islam: from the GSPC to AQMI | 143
8 Killing the messengers: Algeria’s Rushdie syndrome | 169
Conclusion: a historian’s reflections on amnesty in
Algeria | 195
Notes | 207
Index | 230
Acknowledgments
Thankfully, throughout the process of writing this book, I had the
good fortune to have a lot of sound advice and help. And, although
those who have helped me see through this book bear no res-
ponsibility for any of the book’s flaws, they do share collective
responsibility for any success the book sees. I have been humbled by
their patience, insights, commitment to rigorous inquiry, insistence
on clear writing, and, most important, their friendship and support.
Since this endeavor took many years to write and research, I’d
like to begin by thanking those involved in the research necessary
to complete the book. First and foremost, I’d like to thank Prem
Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Nebraska (the
faculty’s real champion at the University), and Laura Damuth, of
the University of Nebraska’s Undergraduate Creative and Research
Experience (UCARE) program. Through the generous support of
the UCARE program, I have benefited from the assistance of several
brilliant and tenacious research assistants who vigilantly sought out
documents, books, newspaper articles, and other relevant sources.
Without their help, this book would never have been possible. Those
UCARE students that I’d like to praise are: April Kirkendall, Isabelle
Koch, Dené Oglseby, Jennifer Pahlke, Maegan Stevens-Liska, and
David Thomas.

Writing this book was also a collective experience. I’d first like to
thank Ken Barlow, commissioning editor at Zed Books in London.
Without Ken’s patience, flexibility, and support, this book would
never have been realized. Next, it is impossible to imagine this book
without Nicholas Guyatt. First, because Nick invited me to write the
book for his “Global History of the Present” series with Zed Books,
and second because he stuck with me throughout the long process
of preparing this text. As series editor, Nick is truly irreplaceable.
He is without question the smartest and most dynamic editor and
colleague I have had the pleasure to work with. His undaunted
encouragement, keen observations, honesty, and unrivaled ability
to understand both the big picture and the unique significance of
the story told in this book literally kept me going. Moreover, his
Acknowledgments | vii
determination to see the book reach a broader audience by focusing
on clear prose clearly impacted the design and the delivery of the
material. Next, my colleagues John Entelis, John Ruedy, and Jennifer
Bryson also deserve praise for their willingness to advise me on either
parts or the entirety of the manuscript at key moments. Finally, I’d
like to thank my friend Jennifer Pahlke. Like Nick, Jen read every
single draft of this book from beginning to end and made an invalu-
able contribution to the text. Jen’s insights and willingness to help no
matter what (even as she was on her way back to the US from France
on her way to start her PhD at Yale) can never be repaid. I am truly
indebted to her for her generosity at every step of the way, both in the
research and the writing phases.
Throughout the past few years, I have also had the opportunity to
conduct extensive oral history interviews for a documentary film I
am producing, and these conversations have helped me clarify many
key aspects of the story told in this book. Among those who granted
me interviews that I’d like to thank here are: Henri Alleg, Slimane
Benaïssa, Anouar Benmalek, Aziz Chouaki, Anita DeFrantz, John En-
telis, Anwar Haddam, Alec Hargreaves, Reda Hassaine, Gilles Kepel,
Yasmia Khadra, Malika Mokaddem, Hugh Roberts, Paul Silverstein,
Benjamin Stora, Alec Toumi, and Marie Virolle. Similarly, William
Lawrence was always willing to discuss ideas or issues addressed in
the book, and his advice was invaluable.
I had the opportunity to test out several sections of this manu-
script as public lectures. I would therefore like to thank Jane Moss for
inviting me to Colby College’s Goldfarb Center to try out what would
become the conclusion of this book. John Calvert at Creighton Uni-

versity gave me the opportunity to present the basis for Chapter Eight
in a public lecture. My colleagues Danny Postel and Hamid Akbari
gave me the chance to present other sections of this book before it
went to press to a wonderful audience at Northeastern Illinois Univer-
sity. And the faculty at West Point gave me one final opportunity to try
out key aspects of this story just before publication.
I’d like to thank Lorna Scott Fox for her much appreciated assist-
ance in preparing the book for publication.
Finally, I’d like to thank my group of friends at the local Starbucks
in Lincoln, whose daily indulgences and great Ameri canos kept me
going as I sat for months and months at “my office” by my favorite
window, writing and revising this book.
Chronology
1827–1953
April 30, 1827 – The “coup d’éventail” (Pierre Deval, French King
Charles X’s consul in Algiers) is hit with fly swatter by the Ottoman
Hussein Dey.
June 1827 – Beginning of French blockade of Algiers. Charles X sends
Prince Jules de Polignac to Algiers, and, in return, Hussein destroys
French posts at Bône and Le Calle.
July 5, 1830 – The French capture Algiers.
August 2, 1830 – Charles X abdicates. The Duc d’Orléans is subse-
quently crowned as King Louis-Philippe.
July 22, 1834 – Louis- Philippe issues Royal Ordinance designating
Algeria a military colony.
1837 – Treaty of Tafna signed by General Thomas Robert Bugeaud
and the Algerian resistance leader, the emir Abd el-Kader, acknow-
ledging Abd el-Kader’s sovereignty over a considerable portion of
Algeria. The treaty is broken by Louis-Philippe two years later.
November 18, 1839 – Abd el-Kader formally declares war against the
French.
November 1840 – General Bugeaud is appointed governor general of
Algeria. He initiates a total war approach against the Algerian resist-
ance, which results in widespread human rights abuses.
February 1844 – Creation of the Office of Arab Affairs (Bureau Arabe).
December 1847 – Alexis de Tocqueville publishes his “Report on
Algeria,” commissioned by the French government, in which he urges
France to use less violent means of subduing the Algerian people.
December 21, 1847 – Abd el-Kader surrenders to the French general
and commander of Oran Province, Louis de Lamoricière, who guaran-
tees Abd el-Kader safe passage to either Alexandria or Acre.
February 1848 – Revolution in France and abdication of Louis-
Philippe. The Second Republic is declared. The French renege on
promises made to Abd el-Kader (the condition of his surrender). He is
placed under house arrest at the Château d’Amboise.
Chronology | ix
1848 – Algeria is divided into the three French départements of Oran,
Algiers, and Constantine.
1851 – Coup d’état by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III)
October 1852 – Emperor Napoleon III visits Abd el-Kader at the
Château d’Amboise and orders his release.
1860 – Napoleon III declares a “Royaume Arabe” or “Arab Kingdom”
in Algeria, which the European settlers resent.
1860 – Unrest in Syria. Abd el-Kader’s intercession helps spare the
lives of thousands of Syrian Christians, for which Napoleon later
inducts him into the French Legion of Honor.
1863 – In a move widely criticized by European settlers as being too
pro-Muslim, Napoleon’s senatus-consulte declares tribes of Algeria
owners of land they had traditionally occupied.
1865 – The senatus-consulte declares the end of war on Arabs, and
creates a separate legal status for non-Christians in Algeria. Although
Napoleon intended to protect Muslims with this action, the law codi-
fied the second-class status of Algerians.
July 19, 1870 – Franco-Prussian War (July 19, 1870–May 10, 1871)
begins when Napoleon III declares war on Prussia.
September 2, 1870 – Napoleon III taken prisoner during the Battle of
Sedan after his army is defeated.
September 4, 1870 – Third Republic declared. Insurrection in Paris,
while France continues war against Prussia.
1870 – The Crémieux decree naturalizes the Algerian Jewish commu-
nity, but does nothing to alter the inferior legal status of the Muslim
majority.

Fall 1870 – Insurrections throughout Algeria, instigated by settlers
rejecting the French government’s interference in Algerian affairs.
1870 – Code de l’indigénat (proposed by settler delegation in French
parliament) creates a legal framework for discrimination against
Algerian Muslims and renders them second-class citizens.
1870–71 – Uprisings throughout Grand Kabylia, which bring harsh
military punishments.
January 21, 1871 – Paris falls to the Prussians.
March 1871 – Paris Commune begins and lasts for two months.
May 10, 1871 – Treaty of Frankfurt ends the Franco-Prussian war.
1881 – French law separates religion from education.
1881 – France invades Tunisia.