ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part explores the French political establishment's underlying reasons or motives for opposing both a violent Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) take-over and the FIS' inclusion in the political process in Algeria. It examines not only with French opposition to a violent FIS take-over but also to its coming to power through negotiations. The Franco-Algerian relationship might be questioned by the new regime, at least in the short- to medium-term. Franco-Algerian relations cannot be fully understood if it not realised that Algeria has remained a part of France in the French collective imaginary. Immigration issues raised by a FIS take-over or an inclusion of the FIS within the political process dealt with the risk of a massive influx of refugees from Algeria and with the risk of re-Islamisation within the Muslim community living in France.
