From socialism to religious radicalism : the Algerian journey towards terrorism

This paper describes the steady radicalization process of Algerian society since its struggle for independence in 1962, a process that evolved into the bloody civil war known as the Black Decade thirty years later. This paper argues that Algeria has been subject to influences that are specific to its national context rather than the usual trans Arab approach found in literature. Following the aftermath of the war of independence, Algerian society reflected a euphoric, united, and ambitious society. Yet, by 1988 Algerians had struggled their way into a society that was polarized, alienated from the state and its institutions and heavily politicized. All of this occurred in the midst of a massive oil price crash. This paper retraces the influences that led Algerian society from the euphoria of achieving independence to socialism and nationalism, quickly followed by disenchantment with charismatic leaders and political outcomes before finally resorting to violence