Stora Emphasizes the Defeat of France’s Colonial Project in Algeria: A Battle of Memory and Identity

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 13th, 2024 — In a poignant reflection on the complex historical ties between Algeria and France, the historian and French-Algerian scholar, Benjamin Stora, underscored the enduring scars of the colonial legacy, while reaffirming the impossibility of achieving a true “memory reconciliation” between the two nations. Speaking on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s Liberation War, Stora contextualized the ongoing tension within Franco-Algerian relations, which remain strained over the unresolved issues of colonial history and memory.

The commemoration of November 1, which marks the beginning of Algeria’s revolutionary struggle for independence in 1954, serves as a stark reminder of the divided historical narratives between Algeria and France. Stora highlighted that for France, this day symbolizes the tragic start of a long and painful process, punctuated by the mass exodus of over a million European settlers (the “pied-noirs”) in 1962, following Algeria’s hard-won independence. For many French citizens, this exodus signified the end of their long-held dream of a “French Algeria,” a sentiment that has lingered through generations.

In contrast, for Algerians, November 1 represents the birth of their national liberation struggle, an awakening that culminated in the country’s hard-fought independence from French colonial rule. Stora, who is deeply involved in the French-Algerian historical dialogue, expressed that the anniversary marked not just a remembrance of historical events but a continuation of the battle over memory, identity, and historical interpretation that remains unresolved.

The historian, who chairs the Franco-Algerian commission on memory, offered a sobering perspective on the challenge of reconciling these divergent narratives. Stora firmly stated that it is unrealistic to expect a full reconciliation of memories given the profound scars left by 132 years of colonial occupation. “It is not a question of speeches, gestures, or political will alone,” he remarked, acknowledging the deep complexities surrounding the painful history of colonialism. “The matter is far more complicated,” he concluded, pointing to the ongoing obstacles in addressing these issues within both French and Algerian societies.

Stora’s reflections come at a time when the Franco-Algerian relationship is seeing moments of tension, with both countries, he notes, struggling to confront their shared history. While diplomatic efforts continue, the historian believes that progress will come not through a simplistic resolution but by fostering dialogue and understanding between the younger generations in both countries. In his words, “What we need to build are bridges of communication—symbolic bridges like those in Constantine, the city of my birth—so that we can move forward, particularly for the youth of Algeria in France.”

A key theme in Stora’s remarks also touches on the religious and cultural dimensions of the Algerian War of Independence, which he sees as pivotal to the identity of the post-colonial state. The November 1, 1954, manifesto called for the establishment of a democratic state rooted in Islamic principles, a framework that Stora identifies as crucial to understanding Algeria’s identity post-independence. The Islamic dimension of the revolution, alongside its emphasis on freedom and pluralism, remains central to the national identity of Algeria, as enshrined in the constitution which declares Islam as the state religion.

The historian also delved into the relationship between religion, land, and identity in colonial Algeria, observing how French efforts to impose their cultural and religious values failed to erase the deeply ingrained Islamic and cultural identity of the Algerians. Stora argued that French colonialism, despite its military superiority, faced an inevitable defeat—not only on the battlefield but also in the realm of religious and cultural identity. The colonial enterprise’s failure to eradicate Islam and Algerian identity, he contended, ultimately led to the triumph of the national struggle.

Furthermore, Stora touched on the broader implications of France’s colonial failure, noting the unfulfilled promises made to Algerians under the Blum-Viollet plan of 1936, which offered modest political rights that were never fully realized. This failure, he concluded, further contributed to the French defeat in Algeria, making the colonial project not only a political and military failure but a cultural and spiritual defeat as well.

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