The Continuous and Ever-Present Spectre of Genocide. Algeria, Laghouat 1852

This lecture addresses the issue of genocide in Algeria, as discussed in recent scientific research and by the Algerian people and authorities. It aims to demonstrate how this subject haunts France’s colonial history in Algeria, and how it is currently perceived and discussed locally. The notion of a »continuous spectre of genocide« highlights both the ongoing threat of extermination and the variations in its manifestations. Having discussed recent developments in historical research on wars of extermination in Algeria and genocide in the colonies, this talk will examine the case of the Laghouat massacre (December 1852), which took place in southern Algeria. It will explore how this event is currently being studied and debated by the town’s civil society groups, as well as by local and national authorities. Ultimately, this is also an attempt to reflect on the potential contributions of anthropology to the study of genocide and other colonial crimes, a topic that has traditionally been explored in more depth by historians.