Dissenting Voices from the Margin: Spanish-Origin Pieds-Noirs and Their Support for Algerian Independence
Voces disidentes desde el margen: Los pied-noirs de origen español y su apoyo a la independencia de Argelia
Abstract
This research examines the historical and political role of Spanish-origin pieds-noirs who actively supported the Algerian War of Independence, positioning their political trajectories as dissenting voices emerging from the socio-cultural margins of colonial Algeria. While dominant historiographical narratives have largely depicted the European settler population (pieds-noirs) as a homogeneous bloc committed to maintaining Algérie française, this study reveals the internal fractures within this community—specifically among working-class families of Spanish descent settled in regions such as Oranie. Situated at the intersection of peripheral social status, anti-fascist political heritages, and anti-colonial solidarity, these figures challenged the prevailing colonial orthodoxy. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach combining Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), archival interrogation, and socio-historical contextualization, this paper analyzes the ideological motivations, narrative representations, and identity negotiations of these dissenting actors. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how these peripheral voices reshaped trans-Mediterranean solidarities, offering a nuanced re-examination of memory, subalternity, and political agency in the decolonization of Algeria.
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References
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