Has the French colonialism impacted significantly on Algerian culture?

Abstract

This article details what former French President François Hollande refers to as the ‘brutality and injustice’ afflicted on the Algerians at the hands of the French in the past, and examines how this has impacted their language, culture, and identity into the present day (cited in Pecastaing 2013). The French took Algeria in 1830 using genocide and ethnic cleansing under the guise of civilising those they considered inferior. Although they left in 1962 when Algeria gained independence, their influence can still be seen. The article explores the positive and negative impact of the removal of Arabic as a language and the revolution of the family complex. It examines the status and behaviour of the Pieds noirs (workers who migrated to Algeria from other areas of Europe and were given citizenship) and explores who seems to be entitled to be considered a national sensation (winning sports people) and who is not. The article concludes that the treatment of Algerians may be at least partially responsible for the creation of some extremists and terrorists.