The Political Functions of Associational Life in Algeria, 1987

221 Pages·2014·8.91 MB·English

Civil Society in a Weak State:
The Political Functions of Associational Life in Algeria,
1987 2005
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Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Development Studies Institute
London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.
Candidate: Andrea Liverani
UMI Number: U615673
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Abstract
This study analyses the significance of Algeria’s associative sphere in the context of the
state’s attempts to retain legitimacy. Starting from a critique of portrayals of Algerian ‘civil
society’ as a force conducive to democratization, and by framing the period under study in a
broader historical perspective, the thesis examines the changing relationship of the state to
voluntary associations in both the colonial and post-colonial eras. It considers the place of
associational life in the political economy of economic reform, investigating the role it
played in facilitating the state’s retreat from service provision. Consideration of the notion
that civic associations shape people's propensity towards cooperation and collective action,
facilitating democratic politics through the injection of trust and social capital, provides the
starting point for analyzing their internal dynamics and the incentives driving their
functioning. A further examination of the social bases of the associative sphere then leads to
questioning its independence from the state, and highlights the role of the associative sector
in tempering the fracture between the state and those social groups that most suffered from
the collapse of Algeria’s post colonial political framework. A critical examination of the
proposition that civil society organisations legitimate and strengthen representative political
institutions such as parties and parliament provides the opportunity to show how the
associative sphere contributed to preserving the dominance of the executive in the political
system despite the introduction of multi-partism. Finally, the study analyses donors’ use of
advocacy and service-delivery associations in democracy-promotion programmes, arguing
that their focus on the country’s ‘civil society’ contributed to the state’s efforts to preserve its
international legitimacy. In this light, rather than a driver of democratic change, the
associative sphere appears as one of the elements of conservation used by a weakened state
to reacquire legitimacy and reinforce its capacity to secure voluntary acquiescence in its rule.
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To Alice,
for the grey areas,
and all that ensued.
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Contents
Civil Society in a Weak State:...............................................................................................................................1
The Political Functions of Associational Life in Algeria, 1987- 2005........................................................1
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................6
Abbreviations.............................................................................................................................................................7
List of tables and Figures.......................................................................................................................................10
Chronology................................................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 1. Civil society in weak states............................................................................................................15
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................15
Algeria’s weak state.................................................................................................................................................16
Civil society in liberalised autocracies.................................................................................................................19
The political functions of associational life........................................................................................................25
Researching Algerian associational life..............................................................................................................27
Chapter 2. From repression to instrumental use: associational life through colonial and
postcolonial times...................................................................................................................................................29
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................29
Cafes, nadis, and sport clubs in the demise of colonial Algeria.....................................................................30
Independence, incorporation and repression......................................................................................................32
From repression to instrumental use....................................................................................................................35
Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................................38
Chapter 3. Outsourcing failure: state insulation and scapegoat politics in Algeria .............39
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................39
Structural disadjustment as insulation failure.....................................................................................................40
Insulation revisited...................................................................................................................................................43
Introducing the scapegoats.....................................................................................................................................45
Diverting discontent................................................................................................................................................49
Preserving factional equilibria...............................................................................................................................57
From state failure to civic failure..........................................................................................................................61
Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................................63
Chapter 4. Out of trust? Presidents and families versus Algeria’s associative decay.......................66
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................66
Social capita] in Algeria.........................................................................................................................................67
Associative decay....................................................................................................................................................70
Out of distrust...........................................................................................................................................................74
Surviving decay: associative presidentialism.....................................................................................................75
Surviving decay II: associative familism............................................................................................................81
Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................................86
Chapter 5. Algerian associations from voice to loyalty..............................................................................88
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................88
Post-independence loyalty, political exit and civic voice.................................................................................89
The social bases of associational life...................................................................................................................92
From state-class to associative class: The rise, fall and exit of Algeria’s public sector strata.................96
The associative sphere as political settlement.................................................................................................102
From state distribution to distributive associations.........................................................................................105
Patrons and clients in associations......................................................................................................................111
Conclusions.............................................................................................................................................................119
Chapter 6. Party bypass: associational life and the management of political pluralism...............121
Introduction: Algerian parties and their discontented.....................................................................................121
Hyperpluralism in Algeria....................................................................................................................................123
Associations and parties: from alliance to distance........................................................................................127
Associations and the state: from opposition to collusion...............................................................................134
Managing associative pluralism.........................................................................................................................141
From electoral committees to civic associations, and back...........................................................................148
Conclusions: associational life and the departification of Algerian politics..............................................155
Chapter 7. Civic engagement: Algeria’s associative sphere and the international arena..............157
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................157
Threatened civility: associations in the international limelight....................................................................159
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In search of civic voices.......................................................................................................................................164
Grassroots legitimacy............................................................................................................................................167
Democracy promotion between stability and change......................................................................................175
The anti-politics of civil society support...........................................................................................................181
Reaching out to the state......................................................................................................................................186
Conclusions.............................................................................................................................................................192
Chapter 8. Conclusions......................................................................................................................................194
Institutional cloaking versus political change...................................................................................................194
Sheltered grassroots, Faustian pacts?.................................................................................................................197
Transformational diplomacy...............................................................................................................................200
References...............................................................................................................................................................203
Annex A. List of persons interviewed...............................................................................................................215
Annex B. Associations registered at the Maison des Associations in Bologhine, with cases of
homonymy.............................................................................................................................................................218
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Acknowledgements
I wish to thank British Petroleum and the London School of Economics for
funding the research on which this thesis is based. The Development Studies
Institute of the LSE ended up being much more than a postgraduate school, and
a special thanks goes to those that assigned Alice Rowley to my development
studies class back in 1998. My thanks also go to the DESTIN students and
academic staff, and particularly to Dr Teddy Brett and Dr David Keen, and to
Steph, Sue and Dru for all their help. My warm and heartfelt gratitude goes to
Dr Hugh Roberts, whose encouragement, rigour and criticism made this project
possible, and to Dr James Putzel for his unwavering support along the years. A
number of people in Algeria also deserve to be acknowledged for the hospitality
with which they welcomed me. Only a few can be mentioned here: Mohamed,
Yazid, “1’Ane”, Gilles, Annie, Fatma Zohra, Nadir, Sai'da and Nacer. To them
goes my gratefulness and friendship.
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Abbreviations
AAC Alliance of the Associations from the Centre {Alliance des Associations du Centre)
APW Wilaya Popular Assembly {Assemble Populaire de Wilaya)
ACB Bejai'a Citizens Association {Association Citoyenne de Bejaia)
AD Algerian Dinar
AFEPEC Women’s Association for Personal Fulfilment and Citizenship {Association
feminine pour I’epanouissement de la personne et I 'exercice de la citoyennete)
AI Amnesty International
AIB Islamic Charitable Association {Association Islamique de Bienfaisance)
A1TDF Independent Association for the Triumph of Women’s Rights {Association
Independante pour le Triomphe des Droits des Femmes)
APC Municipal Councils {Assemblies Populaires Communales)
APN Popular National Assembly {Assemblee Populaire Nationale)
CASA Algerian Confederation of Autonomous Unions {Confederation algerienne des
syndicats autonomes)
CIMADE Ecumenical Service for Self-help {Service Oecumenique d’Entraide)
CISP Italian Committee for Peoples’ Solidarity {Comitato Jtaliano di Solidarieta tra i
Popoli)
CNEC National Coordination of Children of Martyrs {Coordination Nationale Enfants des
Chouhada)
CNEJE National Council for Mutual Aid for Youth and Children {Conseil National
dEntraide pour la Jeunesse et I Enfance)
CNES Economic and Social National Council (Conseil National Economique et Social)
CNOT National Committee against Forgetting/Forgetfulness and Treason {Comite
Nationale contre I ’Oubli et la Trahison)
DEC Municipal Executive Delegates (Delegues Executifs Communaux)
DJS Directorate of Youth and Sports {Direction Generate Jeunesse et Sport)
DRAG Directorate for General Relations and Affairs {Direction des Relations et Affaires
Generates)
DRS Directorate of Security and Information {Direction des Renseignements et de la
Securite)
DSP Directorate of Public Health {Direction Sante Publique)
ECHO European Commission Humanitarian Office
Egalite Association for the Equality of Men and Women (Association pour 1 ’egalite entre
hommes et femmes)
ENA EtoileNord-Africaine
ENTV Public Television Network {Entreprise Nationale de Television)
EPL Local public enterprise {Entreprise Publique Locale)
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EU European Union
FFS Socialist Forces Front (.Front des Forces Socialistes)
FIS Islamic Salvation Front (Front lslamique du Salut)
FLN National Liberation Front {Front de Liberation Nationale)
FOREM National Foundation for Health Promotion and Research Development {Fondation
Nationale pour la Promotion de la Sante et le Developpement de la Recherche)
FORUM Businessmen’s Forum {FORUMdes Chefs d’Entreprises)
GIA Islamic Armed Groups {Groupes Jslamiques Armes)
HCA High Commissariat for Berber Affairs {Haut Commissariat pout I’Amazighite)
HCE High State Committee {Haut Comite d’Etat)
HRW Human Rights Watch
IFHR International Federation of Human Rights
ILO International Labour Organisation
IMED Mediterranean Institute {Instituto per il Mediterraneo)
IMF International Monetary Fund
JORA Journal Officiel de la Republique Algerienne
LADDH Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights {Ligue Algerienne pour la
Defense des Droits de I ’Homme)
LADH Algerian League of Human Rights {Ligue Algerienne des Droits de I ’Homme)
MAB Associations’ House of Bologhine {Maison des Associations de Bologhine)
MASSN Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity {Ministere de I ’Action Social et
de la Solidarite Nationale)
MCB Berber Cultural Movement {Mouvement Culturel Berbere)
MDS Democratic and Social Movement (Mouvement Democratique et Social)
MEDA European Union Mediterranean Democracy Programme
MJS Ministry of Youth and Sport {Ministere de la Jeunesse et Sports)
MSP Movement of Society for Peace (previously, Movement for an Islamic Society {Al-
Harakat li Mujtama ‘ 1 si ami, HAMAS)
MTFP Ministry of Labour {Ministere du Travail et de la Formation Professionnelle)
NGO Non-governmental organisation
ONASJ National Organisation for the Youth {Organisation Nationale des associations pour
la Sauvegarde de la Jeunesse)
ONDH National Observatory on Human Rights {Observatoire National des Droits de
I ’Homme)
ONEC National Organisation of Children of Martyrs {Organisation Nationale des Enfants
de Chouhada)
ONM National War Veterans’ Organisation {Organisation Nationale des Moudjahidine)
ONVT National Organisation of the Victims of Terrorism
OST Socialist Workers’ Organisation {Organisation Socialiste des Travailleurs)
PAGS Socialist Vanguard Party {Parti de I ’Avant-Garde Socialiste)
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