3 ms·

I take it that prior to French occupation, Algeria was an exceptionally prosperous, safe and free country?

nephanth 3y ago
This question makes little sense, Algeria had been under french occupation since 1830. Before the 2 industrial revolutions, and before a lot of current democraties were established. Its situation then is a very bad predictor of an hypothetical situation now. One thing is for sure, French occupation was very bad for the natives. There was a de facto segregation enforced. The French Algerians hoarded the riches (by possessing mist of the land), and Native Algerians didn't have voting rights or political power. Often used was the justification by so-called "advances" that colons had brought. But the truth is most of the infrastructure built only benefited French Algerians, and despite claims of bringing "civilization", education and alphabetization rates in Algeria were extremely low. Also regardless of the occupation, the extremely gruesome war hurt the country's economy deeply and traumatized all parties involved Source: a documentary i viewed a while ago on the Algerian war, I can find the reference if someone wants it (In French)
- cat_plus_plus 3y ago
  You are assuming that technological and political advancements are likely to have happened independently everywhere without contact with civilizations that already developed them. Or that if Algerians developed them before French, they would have been any more enlightened. In fact, conditions necessary for technological advancements probably require some degree of enlightenment, although a very low bar by modern standards. So mostly you get to blame French for being first to become powerful and pity Algerians for not getting as much benefit as if they made all these inventions themselves or they were shared in a peaceful manner. Claim that they would have Internet to shut off if they were somehow isolated from the rest of the world since 1830 is pretty unlikely.

This question makes little sense, Algeria had been under french occupation since 1830. Before the 2 industrial revolutions, and before a lot of current democraties were established. Its situation then is a very bad predictor of an hypothetical situation now. One thing is for sure, French occupation was very bad for the natives. There was a de facto segregation enforced. The French Algerians hoarded the riches (by possessing mist of the land), and Native Algerians didn't have voting rights or political power. Often used was the justification by so-called "advances" that colons had brought. But the truth is most of the infrastructure built only benefited French Algerians, and despite claims of bringing "civilization", education and alphabetization rates in Algeria were extremely low. Also regardless of the occupation, the extremely gruesome war hurt the country's economy deeply and traumatized all parties involved Source: a documentary i viewed a while ago on the Algerian war, I can find the reference if someone wants it (In French)

cat_plus_plus 3y ago
You are assuming that technological and political advancements are likely to have happened independently everywhere without contact with civilizations that already developed them. Or that if Algerians developed them before French, they would have been any more enlightened. In fact, conditions necessary for technological advancements probably require some degree of enlightenment, although a very low bar by modern standards. So mostly you get to blame French for being first to become powerful and pity Algerians for not getting as much benefit as if they made all these inventions themselves or they were shared in a peaceful manner. Claim that they would have Internet to shut off if they were somehow isolated from the rest of the world since 1830 is pretty unlikely.