ABSTRACT

The sixteen years preceding Algerian independence, but particularly the period 1 November 1954, when the final phase of the war of liberation was launched, to 1 July 1962, when a referendum resulted in a 91 per cent vote for independence (to be foIlowed two days later by President de GauIle's proclamation of the country's independence) were decisive years. These years witnessed hectic activity on the economic front, along with bloody war - the latter between the French army and the Algerian army and guerrillas, and towards the end of the period between the large European urban community and the Algerian urban population. In both areas - war and economics - matters were coming to a climax. This looks paradoxical superficially, as there seems to be an inherent conflict between intensified economic developmental activity and military activity. Yet deeper down one can discern the internal logic of this strange parallelism: the continued fantasy that with improved economic conditions the Algerians might accept integration within France and the European community would have a greater stake in the country; and that the exercise of harsh military action would give credibility to France's determination to stay put and to proceed with the absorption of Algeria into the French political and economic framework.