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

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 · 114 ratings  · eight reviews

Starting time your review of The Invention of Decolonization

This is a fascinating book virtually how the French when from considering Algeria as being 100% French to their reluctant acceptance of Algerian independence. It is VERY bookish, particularly in the starting time where information technology 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 mail-colonialist.

For those unfamiliar with this unfortunate piece of history, French republic brutally colonized Algeria in the 1830s

This is a fascinating book about how the French when from considering Algeria every bit existence 100% French to their reluctant credence of Algerian independence. It is VERY bookish, particularly in the offset where it is a bit philosophical in terms of how the intellectuals and philosophers of the left and correct had to alter their entire line of thinking from colonialist to post-colonialist.

For those unfamiliar with this unfortunate slice of history, French republic brutally colonized Algeria in the 1830s and made it an integral part of France. This is due to the rich mineral resource 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 at that place (I come across 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 slice of freedom too and thus started the civil war around 1954. Cruel on both sides, there were actually three sides fighting: the French ground forces loyal to French republic trying to keep the peace at kickoff and afterward trying to escape, the GIA or Algerian Liberation Front end of Algerians pushed past Islamic extremists into fighting for liberty, and the notorious OSS or the French Secret Army of the pieds noirs fighting for keeping Algeria nether colonization. Needless to say, it was a confusing time. In 1958, at that place was a sort of coup d'erat (or change of government depending on what part of the political spectrum you lot 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. Notwithstanding, that is where the mucilaginous term of "decolonization" comes in.

Since the French had spent over 100 years preaching "égalité, liberté, fraternité" with respect to People's democratic republic of algeria going every bit far every bit proverb. "Algeria is France and France is Algeria", this consummate 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 24-hour interval (just look at last yr's election where the fascist, pied noir party the Front National was competing with outsider Macron for the Presidency).

The book does a keen job particularly in the 2nd 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 cardinal correct. As I said before, this is still a major result in French social club today and thus the book resonates yet.

There remains a book to be written or a film shot about the fate of the harkis. These are the Algerians left behind subsequently the French exodus of 1962-1963 that were brutally slaughtered in mass (studies count between 50k and 100k victims) in the aftermath. Petty has been written about this flow due probably to national shame to the fate of these people. To put it in perspective, information technology 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 merely I retrieve it claim farther work and study.

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May 05, 2020 Awdur rated it liked it

Excellent, really foundational to understanding the prototype shift that took identify in the France in 1962. Simply put, France minus Algeria was non just territorially smaller but a unlike entity birthday.

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

April 28, 2019 Chiara rated it information technology was amazing

This volume 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 merely so many things to go out of this book.

This book was one of the primary sources of my thesis and I heavily relied on it throughout the year. There are passages and chapters that I take read and reread probably a dozen or more times. It's but a really, really excellent volume. (Also I apologiz

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--in that location are just and 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 yr. In that location are passages and chapters that I have read and reread probably a dozen or more times. Information technology'south just a really, actually excellent book. (Too 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 twelvemonth.)

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Nov 12, 2018 Amanda rated it really liked it

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

Aug x, 2008 Greg rated information technology liked it

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, information technology 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 issues which take persisted in France concerning race and ethnicity.

Shepard make

Apparently, I had to read a number of these works on French republic for a course. This is a legal and to a lesser extent a political history of the Algerian disharmonize. Thoroughly researched and an intelligent work, it has received considerable attention lately. Overall, the book critiques the manner in which French republic 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 French republic than probably existed (that might derive from the study'south 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 ane coup attempt or another practically every other day. Just Shepard isn't wrong to run across problems with France's manner of leaving Algeria, although I'thou just non sure that there wouldn't accept been enormous bug no matter how France left.

Not a bad book, but non every bit coherently written equally I might have liked, and at that place are numerous other books about Algeria that I would look at over this. Splendid for research purposes, even so.

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Sep 09, 2008 Heather rated it did not similar information technology

Recommends it for: no one!

No one should ever read this book. It is incredibly hard to read and past the time you lot decipher the words in each sentence, break down each sentence to come to an idea of what he's talking about, y'all forget what yous were trying to understand. At that place are other books that would be better for understanding and learning near the decolonization of Algeria. No one should e'er read this book. It is incredibly hard to read and by the time you decipher the words in each sentence, interruption downward each sentence to come to an idea of what he's talking well-nigh, you forget what you were trying to understand. There are other books that would exist better for understanding and learning about the decolonization of People's democratic republic of algeria. ...more

Jul 21, 2014 l rated it really liked it

First-class look at how Algerians and the Algerian War were perceived in France and the furnishings of those irresolute perceptions.

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