The Algerian crisis in European and US foreign policies: a hindsight analysis

Abstract

Algeria's process of political liberalisation in the late 1980s failed to produce genuine transition to democracy. Instead, the country experienced a dreadful decade-long crisis, which besides affecting its societal development, had wider domestic and international repercussions. Despite the attention it drew, deep understanding of the drama failed to prevail. The reactions the crisis induced in Europe and the United States were informed by different strategic and normative considerations. The purpose of this article is to compare these transatlantic responses in order to shed light on their underlying dynamics and to attempt to provide enough empirical basis from which to extrapolate in the assessment of broader US and European democracy promotion efforts in the MEAN region.