The Pied-Noirs 1960-2000: A Case Study in the Persistence of Subcultural Distinctiveness

The French of Algeria, as they are commonly called today, remain a distinct yet waning subculture. Aspects of their lives continue to provide fertile ground for the media, including, most recently a widely published discussion of the use of torture and murder by French generals during the Algerian War (1955-1962). Publications continue to proliferate on all aspects and from all sides of the French Algerian experience as the time passed permits unprecedented examination of this controversial period in history from 1830 when European colonization began until today. The Pied-noirs continue to contribute to the rich multi cultural world of contemporary France but their actual experiences remain a largely taboo topic in a country, like that of the U.S. in Vietnam, hasn't fully come to terms with the scars left by colonization, settlement and ultimate defeat.
This work shows the tremendous influence of Pied-noir on French local and regional elections and discusses the profound effect that the first waves of French Algerians had on the political and economic cultures of Southern France and on the civil service (particularly the gendarmarie and local administration) this group portended. Also discussed is the relationship of Algerian French to the harkis or Algerian Arab supporters of Algerie Francais. Finally the research examines the political fabric of the community and its suprising influence on both the French Left and Right.