The private and political heritage of the Algerian War among French youth

Abstract

Based on a quantitative study of 3000 young French people aged 18 to 25 and qualitative interviews conducted with grandchildren of families affected by the Algerian war, this research proposes an exploration of young people’s memory of this very controversial past in French society. It demonstrates that family history and politicization are both vectors of knowledge and interest in this history. However, if family history simply explains a greater interest in this history, the judgement on the past and its actors remains determined by young people’s political orientations. Issues of otherness and negative perceptions of Algerians, Muslims, and Arabs are at the heart of this contemporary political cleavage.