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An Analysis of Amazigh Identity in Algeria and Morocco

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An Analysis of Amazigh Identity in Algeria and Morocco FLUX: International Relations Review Political Discourse in the Maghreb: An Analysis of Amazigh Identity in Algeria and Morocco Peter MacDonald Edited by Shira Garbis and Isha Shahané ABSTRACT - The Imazighen (plural of Amazigh) are an indigenous group primarily located in Northern and Western Africa. While Amazigh communities are present across the Maghreb, the role of Amazigh identity in Morocco and Algeria is of particular interest given each country's distinct treatment of ethnic and linguistic minorities. In Algeria, Amazigh identity is not as overtly politicized as in Morocco, wherein Amazigh communities are often at the forefront of public discourses and are often scapegoated as a source of political instability. Compared to Morocco, Algerian Imazighen generally experience higher acceptance levels due to numerous social, political, historical, and geographic factors that underpin the treatment and perceptions of Amazighté in Morocco and Algeria today. This article analyzes Algeria and Morocco's respective independence movements, political systems, language laws, and geographic topography to link the contemporary role of Amazigh identity to each national setting's unique history, politics, and geography. 53 FLUX: International Relations Review he Imazighen are an ethnic group in history can further account for the contrasting or other “Arab” Muslims of the Middle East and perceived “whiteness” of Imazighen and France’s indigenous to North Africa whose existence political developments in Algeria and Morocco, North Africa; until the twentieth century, European strategic decision to rule over a divided populace predates modern Arab society; though they respectively. Simultaneously, Algeria has civil settlers controversially referred to Imazighen as informed the French government’s relatively T society organizations facilitating the protection of “Caucasoid” or “pseudo-white,” suggesting their preferential treatment of Amazigh communities are sometimes referred to as “Berbers,” this term is rooted in colonial sentiments and has largely Amazigh heritage, and the unyielding Moroccan greater proximity to “whiteness” compared to over Arab ones. Consequently, Amazigh tribal been repurposed by Amazigh communities (El monarchy quashes many attempts by Imazighen their Arab counterparts (Fage & Tordoff 2013, leaders were elevated to positions of authority in Aissati 2001, 58). Many Imazighen currently live to self-organize (Chtatou 2019). Due to the 155). Observations about the physical and cultural Algeria throughout the 1850s and 60s (Calvet 2018). in dispersed communities across North Africa, primacy of the monarchy—which derives its differences between Imazighen and Arabs have The French use of Imazighen as proxy primarily in Morocco and Algeria. While both authority from Islam—in Moroccan politics, historically served as a basis for “othering” Amazigh leaders led to greater interaction between Amazigh countries have large Amazigh demographics, Amazigh communities are often scapegoated, communities as an ethnic group that is separate and communities and Arab ones. Though the privileges there exists a sharp difference between each as they are accused of being inherently opposed distinct from the rest of the modern Arab World. awarded to the “Caucasian” Imazighen were meant country's political frameworks and incorporation to national unity (Silverstein 2012, 131). In to drive a wedge between them and Arab Muslims, of Amazigh identity. The Moroccan government addition to these historical and political factors, Path to Self-Governance it also facilitated the diffusion of Amazigh identity geography has played a crucial role in the gradual and culture throughout Algeria. As Amazigh has been less accepting of Amazigh communities Algeria and Morocco’s distinctive paths acceptance of Amazigh minorities in Algeria, communities integrated into Arab ones, the than Algeria's, leading Amazigh activists in to independence help explain the differing roles many of whom have moved to find work in amalgamation of cultures created a discursive Morocco to become more politicized. It is worth played by Imazighen in their respective political major cities. In contrast, the larger, more isolated landscape wherein the Algerian Amazigh noting that, for this paper, I define politicization spheres. Whereas Algeria experienced arduous Amazigh communities in Morocco remain could later advocate on behalf of their formal as the degree to which something has been French colonial rule throughout the nineteenth and relatively concentrated in the Sahara Desert recognition. This early bondedness of Arab and transformed from an objective, nonpartisan entity twentieth centuries, Morocco was colonized later and surrounding mountainous regions. Finally, Amazigh communities can explain why Imazighen into a politically charged, often subjective one. and for a shorter time. The institutions put in place the Amazigh language, known as Tamazight, are less politicized in contemporary Algeria Politicization does not take place in a vacuum, and by France in Algeria greatly affected the Amazigh and the degree to which the language has been than Morocco; the French colonial era forcibly it often reflects myriad socio-political pressures. communities and the lengthy French presence in politicized, also illustrates different perceptions unified different ethnic groups in Algeria that had More specifically, Amazigh communities Algeria also inadvertently caused the Amazigh of Amazigh identity in Algeria and Morocco. previously lived in isolation from one another, and in Morocco are frequently scapegoated for people to band together with Arab people against while said unification did not lead to immediate political instability, making their “role” in their common enemy. Because Morocco evaded policy upheaval, it effectively laid the groundwork contemporary Moroccan society inherently some of the unyielding, drawn-out colonial practices Explanation of Amazigh Identity for future efforts by the Amazigh to gain cultural salient, albeit in an ostensibly negative manner. in Algeria, Amazigh and Arab Moroccans had fewer To understand how and why Algeria and recognition in the decades that followed. On the other hand, present-day Algerian society is incentives to unify in the face of an external threat. Morocco treat Imazighen differently, it is first While Imazighen were considered relatively accepting of Amazigh minorities, who are Though both countries continued to “other” and essential to establish the meaning of “Amazigh “less Muslim,” and therefore better candidates increasingly integrated into political discussions. oppress Amazigh demographics after the colonial identity” and what constitutes Amazigh culture. for integration into positions of authority and Historical context, geographical differences, era, this distinction helps explain why divisions Most Imazighen in North Africa are Sunni Muslim, assimilation into French culture, the success varying civil society groups, and differing degrees between Arabs and Imazighen are currently more though there are large enclaves of Christian and of French divide and rule tactics in colonial of language acceptance can explain why Amazigh prominent in Morocco than Algeria and why Jewish Imazighen in France, many of whom Algeria were ultimately short-lived. By the late communities are more politicized in Morocco than they have been politicized to different degrees. emigrated in the 1960s and 70s (El Aissati 2001, nineteenth century, many Amazigh communities Algeria. Moreover, these factors can effectively Following France’s annexation of Algeria 60). Some contemporary Amazigh communities had already started to openly defy French rule account for why Amazigh identity is considered in 1848, approximately 7 per cent (roughly currently rely on farming and herding livestock in in tandem with Arab protests and organized less transgressive in Algeria and why Amazigh 110,000) of the Algerian population was European the mountainous regions of North Africa, whereas political dissidence (Yezza 2013). Tensions in communities are politically ostracized in Morocco (Hargreaves 1997, 41). Once the French had others are primarily nomadic. Their ancestral roots Algeria erupted shortly after World War Two, and depicted as counter-establishment agitators. successfully captured and quelled all of present- are in the Horn of Africa, but large numbers of igniting a lengthy war of independence between day Algeria, they began implementing specific Firstly, while Algeria’s path to independence was Imazighen migrated westward across North Africa, French forces and the native Algerian population. measures to fragment the native population. The marred by persistent French colonial rule and a settling in the area between Egypt and Mauritania The war, beginning in 1954, begat thousands of French colonial government’s main goal was bloody civil war, Morocco gained independence (Seligman 1930, 133-137). Nomadic practices Algerian casualties as anti-colonial associations to “eradicate Islam from the Algerian identity,” through a relatively quick process. Algeria’s continue to inform contemporary expressions of fought for the right to self-govern, which they while noting that “the Amazigh seemed keener lengthy experience under French rule inadvertently Amazigh culture, which is not spatially confined finally achieved when an armistice was reached to renounce their Muslim legacy, as they more resulted in a more unified population, staunchly or isolated within sovereign
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