FRENCH NATIONAL IDENTITY AND MEMORY POLITICS IN THE 21st CENTURY

Abstract

Following the brutal Algerian War, there was a distinct discomfort surrounding the discussion of the memories of the war in France. Yet, the migration of harkis and pied noirs to mainland France provided a clear reminder of France’s colonial past. These migrant communities and the stories they told of the war had long been at the margins of official histories. Then, at the turn of the century, tensions surrounding immigration and xenophobia came to a head under President Jacques Chirac’s motto of “France for All” and encouraged discussions on France’s colonial past and its continuing legacy. The controversial Mekachera Act was passed during this period. The Act, which attempted to recast the official colonial narrative, re-invoked strong sentiments regarding notions of citizenship and nationality. The subsequent debates on the exclusivity of the French national narrative further questioned the universalism that dominates the country as France navigates national identity and postcolonial realities in the 21st century. This thesis examines the contrasting articulations of national identity in France as its different communities seek to find their rightful place in the country. There is a clear disjunction between state-sanctioned historical narratives and the memories and experiences of those involved in the Algerian War. This is not, however, a straightforward story of state censorship. While the Mekachera Act was condemned for its interference in historical research, it carved out space for postcolonial minorities and their memories. The resurgence of colonial memories opened up conversations on the brutal Algerian War, as well as that of national histories and national identities.