The Battlefield Algeria 1988-2002: Studies in a Broken Polity

A radical corrective to Western misconceptions that reduce Algeria’s tragedy to a clash of stereotypes

The violence that has ravaged Algeria in recent years has often defied explanation. Regularly invoked in debates about political Islam, transitions to democracy, globalization, and humanitarian intervention, Algeria’s tragedy has been reduced to a clash of stereotypes: Islamists vs secularists, terrorists vs innocent civilians, or generals vs a defenceless society. The prevalence of such simplistic representations has disabled public opinion inside as well as outside the country and contributed to the intractability of the conflict.

This book offers a radical corrective to Western misconceptions. Rejecting the usual tautological approaches of inherent, predetermined conflict, Hugh Roberts explores the outlook and evolution of the various forces as they emerged: the Islamists; the Berberists; the factions within the army; the regime in general; and external actors.

Hugh Roberts is Edward Keller Professor of North African and Middle Eastern History at Tufts University, and has taught at the University of California, Berkeley and the school of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.