State formation in the colonies: The case for Algeria

The history of Algeria reveals the control mechanisms of the modern state and its power to transform social life. The economic and social transformation during French colonialism profoundly affected Algeria's state formation process. The Algerian state inherited the legal and administrative structure, economic and social transformation created during French colonialism. Both the intensity of violence during the colonial occupation and the confiscation of indigenous lands to be given to settlers upset the social and economic order of the indigenous population. It took away their livelihoods and forced them into wage labor. The already existing resistance evolved into a different dimension with the elites who received a modern education, workers in France, soldiers who saw different lives during the two world wars, and the formation of national consciousness due to the changing world conjuncture. When nationalist groups realized that peaceful means would not help them achieve their demands, they chose to fight for independence. During the War of Independence, the pacification strategy based on violence came to the fore. The use of structural violence in addition to physical violence led to the emergence of a culture of violence in Algeria. This is evident both in the behavior of the National Liberation Front during the war and in what happened after the war. Especially the civil war that started in 1992 is a reflection of the political culture of violence. In Algeria, state formation became the main goal after independence. Nation- building, on the other hand, started with the emergence of a strong opposition movement and continued after independence. An authoritarian regime has been established in Algeria, ruled by a power bloc dominated by the military. However, the people's struggle for equality and democracy continues.