France and the Algerian Conflict: Issues in Democracy and Political Stability,1988-1995 FROM THE PUBLISHER
France and the Algerian Conflict is a study of the French response to political upheavals in Algeria since 1988. In a very short period of time, Algeria has lived through a fast track democratization process, a coup d'ﾽtat and an upsurge of violence bringing the country to the brink of civil war. France's policy towards its ex-colony during this period of political and social hardship has been very tortuous. French leaders, from the Left or the Right, have shifted back and forth from supporting "conciliation" in Algeria to backing "eradication". This book retraces the main events that occurred in Algeria from 1988 to 1995 and analyses the successive policy shifts of the French government both in terms of political discourse and policy means. In particular, it seeks answers to the issue of the French opposition to the Algerian militant Islamic Salvation Front (FIS).
SYNOPSIS
Examining French policy towards Algeria under both left (1988-1993) and right (1993-1995) governments, the author argues that shifting policies for both the left and the right was predicated more on the concern for political stability and the protection of vested French interests than on any commitment to democratization. After chronologically describing the general contours of policy, the text explores the reasoning behind opposition to any take-over of the Algerian government by the Islamic Salvation Front, identifying immigration issues as the central concern of French policy-makers. The analysis partly rests on an exposition of the sway of informal networks on both economic and political levels. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Home
