Civil Society in Algeria: Activism, Identity and the Democratic Process

Are new forms of activism emerging in Algeria? Can civil society effect political reform in the country? The violence between radical Islamists and the military during the 1990s led to huge loss of life and mass exile. The public sphere was rendered a dangerous place for over a decade. Yet in defiance of these conditions, civil society grew, with thousands of associations forming throughout the conflict. Associations were set up to protect human rights and vulnerable populations, commemorate those assassinated, protect the environment and promote Algerian heritage. There are now over 100,000 registered associations across the country. With updated material since the 2019 Hirak massive mobilization for democracy, this revised edition explores the impacts of the growth of civil society since the 1990s on the civility, civic engagement, and longevity of the marches in 2019 and implications for future political change.