Algerian Colonization

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Algeria came under increasing pressure from Western powers and other countries became aware of Algerias inability to defend themselves from a large scale invasion. 1830, the French monarchy, seeking to distract its discontented subjects, decided to invade Algeria to expand their power further. Abd al-Qadir, a devout Sufi religious and political leader, became a symbol of Algerian independence, as he organized an effective resistance that lasted until 1847. Under French rule, local Algerian economies were disrupted, and Islamic institutions, schools, and charitable foundations were dismantled. Algeria itself was falling apart under french rule, and something needed to change if the country itself was going to survive. To make it even worse to become full French citizens, Algerian Muslims had to renounce Islamic religious law and live under the French civil code. The French were erasing old Algeria off the timeline. During the early twentieth century, Algerian nationalism began to spread, and by 1945, the political environment had become sharply polarized, any governmental decisions had a strong reverberation on the country as a whole.

Algerian Independence

The failure of political negotiations with the French led to the Algerian War of Independence in 1954, a brutal, eight-year conflict that was characterized by massacres, terrorism, and torture. The war was long and brutal, until March 1962, when the French government accepted a cease-fire, and in July 1962 the Algerian people voted for independence. Within months, 1.4 million Europeans left Algeria. Although there was peace, France was still a thorn in Algerias side. The Algerian people needed a governmental face to fight for them, so The National Liberation Front (FLN) spearheaded the armed struggle against France and became the dominant political party.

Algeria Today

Algerian news feeds dating back from about 2004 have been filled with terrorist acts of violence. Militant groups are making Algeria a very dangerous place.There have been multiple standoffs recently making it a common fear for regular citizens. In may 2006 Algeria was to pay back all of its $8bn debt to the Paris Club group of rich creditor nations, in a move seen as reflecting its economic recovery. It is obvious, event to a high school student, that Algeria's economy is in a very bad place, as they owe money to multiple estates. Roadside bomb hits a bus carrying staff of a US oil firm, killing one man. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) claims responsibility and shortly afterwards calls for attacks against French nationals. Even in 2006, Algerian extremists are still feuding with french nationalists. in Late 2007 Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat renames itself the al-Qaeda Organisation, which is know to most Americans as a very prominent terrorist group, showing that Algeria is still feeling the problems caused by The french back in the 1800's. Through the period of March- April 2007 , Algeria Experienced several prominent events.

• March-April 2007- Army steps up offensive against Islamist militants to stamp out a surge in attacks.
• March 2007- Three Algerians and a Russian are killed in a roadside attack on a bus carrying workers for a Russian gas pipeline construction company.
• April 2007- 33 people are killed and more than 200 are injured in two bomb blasts in Algiers, one of them near the prime minister's office. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims responsibility.
• May 2007- Parliamentary elections: dozens are killed in the run-up, in a wave of fighting between the military and armed groups. Pro-government parties retain their absolute majority in parliament.

Not only are the pro-government parties being physically affected, but they are choosing not to take immediate and effective action on the very obviously damaging events occurring monthly withing their capital. Late September 2007- At least 50 people are killed in a series of bombings. Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for the attacks. AL queda is making a prominent name for themselves, yet the algerian government has yet to take action against them in an effective way. In early august 2008 al queda publicly claims blame for taking the lives of about 60 people in a series of car bombings, clearly making a statement that if the government doesn't take serious action, history will repeat itself.Finally in october 2012 The US army kills al-Qaeda's deputy leader in Algeria, Boualem Bekai, alias Khaled al-Mig, in an ambush near Tizi Ouzou in the mountainous Kabylie region, which was the first major step in governmental action against the al queda extremists.

Making a Connection

Due to the numerous violent struggles in Algeria today, their economic destabilization resembles that of when they were being colonized by the french. Although Algeria may have established independence, they still experience the political and economic reverberations caused by the french colonization of 1830.  In may 2006 Algeria was to pay back all of its $8bn debt to the Paris Club group of rich creditor nations, in a move seen as reflecting its economic recovery.  Algerian economy is in a  bad state  and they owe money to numerous estates. Many of the violent events we hear about in Algeria are bomb related, whether it is a suicide, car bomb, or targeting well populate places such as schools or bus stops. This could be seen as algerian extremists striking back against their government for poorly executed economic and political movements in the past. Since 1945, the Algerian political environment has been sharply polarized due to the spread of Algerian nationalism, and as we can see, many poor governmental decisions have resulted in violent acts from the Algerian people.