اتجاهات الحركة الوطنية الجزائرية فيما بين الحربين العالميتين (1919-1939م)

Abstract

The Directions of the Algerian National Movement during the two World Wars (1919 - 1939) This study investigates a very important topic concerned the contemporary history of Algeria, it appears during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Some overlapping local and exterior factors have contributed to its appearance; the Algerian National Movement which referred back to the period of French colonization. Such movement performed as groups of political parties and striving reformist organizations to get the individual rights and the essential liberties of Algerian people.

The Algerian National Movement is encompassed in four directions: the Integral Liberal Direction, the Revolutionary Independent Direction, the Arabic Islamic Reformist Direction, and the International Communist Party.

First, the Integral Liberal Direction presented by the Algerian Elite which is well saturated by the Occident culture. For this reason was the integration the unique claim in order to get rid of the domination and the persecution of the government. The programs and the demands of the Liberal Direction were in the same mold of the French law. The elite considered that integration and nationalism may fulfill equality between the Algerian people and the French settlers. This direction was among the ones which welcomed the Plome Violeet project. The supporters of the liberal trend have not considered the independence claim only under the frame of an Algerian union owns its character inside the French Republic.

Second, the Revolutionary Independent Direction presented by Elamir Khaled Elhoussaini. Although historians have not agreed about delimiting its direction only after finding the petition which included revolutionary, separable and independent goals, but Elamir Khaled softened his policy after a lot of oppression and persecution calling only for equality and cancelling the exceptional laws. He has defended the Algerian Arabic Islamic personality, the matter that led the French Office to exile him abroad where he continued his political activity.

The North African Star succeeded Elamir Khaled. It calls for clearly independent principles. It summarizes its ideology in three points: the independence of Algeria, the retreat of French forces, and forming a national army. The North African Star refuses the nationalism

Abstract

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and integration issues. It denied the Plome Violeet project. It assailed the French rule in many occasions that is why it has been unfastened in 1937. After that, the Algerian People Party calls for the independence of Algeria. It could be noted that the Algerian People Party was a patriot national revolutionary party. The French rule has fought this direction, all its different parties, persecuting their members because it was the only movement, which from the beginning, calls for the whole separation and constructing the principles of Algerian independent nation which has its own political, economic, social and cultural sovereignty.

Third, the Arabic Islamic Reformist Direction presented by the Algerian Muslim Association experts. It is characterized by its religious, cultural and social issues. Its activity has been extended abroad, it has reached France in 1937 what makes the French Office persecuted and oppressed its members.

Fourth, the International Direction presented by the Algerian Communist Party. Historians have not considered the latter as a typically Algerian party because its program has defended the rights of both the Algerian and the French worker and farmer against Bourgeoisie. The party did not called for independence or separation, but it called for equality and union between the two people.

In brief, the different directions of the Algerian National Movement has clarified the vision for the Algerians, it contributed to the revolution of the November 1st, 1954 and independence. This claim was absent in the petition of the Elite. In addition, the Algerian Communist Party called only for defending the rights of the Algerian and the French worker and farmer together. The reformist direction called for preserving the Arabic character and personality of Algeria, though it called for separable views, but the independence claim was not clearly stated. The independence claim was clearly stated only in the petition of the independent direction.