De Gaulle’s Doctrine of "Elimination" Through "Integration" in Algeria: the Case of "The Constantine Plan" and the Fiasco of French Settler Colonial Society.

Résumé

The article scrutinizes France’s policy of elimination through integration in Algeria in De Gaulle’s Address on “The Constantine Plan” (Oct. 3, 1958). Utilizing Settler Colonialism theory, the article analyzes the Address to reveal that French settler colonial enterprise in Algeria hinged on the integration of Algerians to erase them culturally and hence ensure the survival of its settler colonial society. To this end, France resorted to improving the economic, social and cultural conditions of the Algerians and lulled them to believe in the equality between Muslims and Europeans to ultimately accept French sovereignty. The study concludes that De Gaulle’s objective of integrating Algerians into the European society was a desperate attempt by the French military and political elites to stymie the decolonization of Algeria.