Algerian women as a bargaining chip in the construction of a new political power: from independence to the crisis of one-party system

Abstract

During the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), Algerian women defied the forbidden and left their habitual role to participate in the struggle for liberation from colonial rule. This experience brought great changes in the representation and perception they had of them. However, after the war, the progress they had obtained regarding the occupation of public space, vanished after the victory. Assuming that female participation was very important during the conflict, the aim of this study is showing that the loss of importance of women after independence was due to the need for new power bloc that emerged triumphant in the nationalist movement, to build new legitimacy within it.