Unveiling the Influence of Colonial Medicine in Algeria on Present-Day Islamophobia in France
Faculty Information
Robert Andolina | Course: INST 4960 | Project-in-progress
Presentation Type
Individual
Presentation Format
Oral presentation
Start Date
10-5-2024 3:00 PM
End Date
10-5-2024 4:00 PM
Abstract or artist statement
This study investigates the historical relationship between French colonial medicine in Algeria and the emergence of Islamophobic laws and policies in contemporary France, examining how colonial medical practices in Algeria have contributed to present-day Islamophobia in France by shaping changing medical discourse and influencing discriminatory legislation targeting Muslim citizens. Employing a historical analysis, the research draws on primary sources such as colonial documents, medical journals, legislative records, and secondary sources from academic literature. Finding suggest that practices like vaccination campaigns during the colonial era reinforced the imposition of cultural superiority, perpetuating the marginalization of native Algerians and establishing a binary opposition between French and Muslim identities. Post-Algerian independence, this discourse persisted, notably through the emergence and implementation of Islamophobic laws in contemporary France. This thesis underscores the enduring impact of colonial legacies on contemporary discriminatory policies in France, challenging simplistic explanations focused solely on radical secularism or religious extremism. The examination of discriminatory laws within the context of medical colonialism in Algeria not only enhances understanding of Islamophobia's origins in France but also provides insights into broader efforts to combat systemic discrimination.
Unveiling the Influence of Colonial Medicine in Algeria on Present-Day Islamophobia in France
This study investigates the historical relationship between French colonial medicine in Algeria and the emergence of Islamophobic laws and policies in contemporary France, examining how colonial medical practices in Algeria have contributed to present-day Islamophobia in France by shaping changing medical discourse and influencing discriminatory legislation targeting Muslim citizens. Employing a historical analysis, the research draws on primary sources such as colonial documents, medical journals, legislative records, and secondary sources from academic literature. Finding suggest that practices like vaccination campaigns during the colonial era reinforced the imposition of cultural superiority, perpetuating the marginalization of native Algerians and establishing a binary opposition between French and Muslim identities. Post-Algerian independence, this discourse persisted, notably through the emergence and implementation of Islamophobic laws in contemporary France. This thesis underscores the enduring impact of colonial legacies on contemporary discriminatory policies in France, challenging simplistic explanations focused solely on radical secularism or religious extremism. The examination of discriminatory laws within the context of medical colonialism in Algeria not only enhances understanding of Islamophobia's origins in France but also provides insights into broader efforts to combat systemic discrimination.