The Other Battle of Algiers

Algeria's urban landscape, particularly the UNESCO-listed Casbah of Algiers, reflects deep historical conflicts rooted in colonialism and post-independence policies. The study reveals that French colonial planning intentionally marginalized indigenous populations through spatial design, prioritizing geometric regularity over the organic structure of the Casbah. Post-colonial governments perpetuated this legacy by ignoring systemic issues, such as housing shortages, and failing to address the city's divided identity—one designed to exclude Algerians during colonization and another that continued to marginalize them post-independence. Films like The Battle of Algiers (1966) and Omar Gatlato (1976) illustrate these tensions, while recent urban development plans aim to redefine Algiers as an African eco-metropolis, though structural neglect persists.

Llorens, N. M. (2018). The Other Battle of Algiers. World Policy Journal, 35(2), 63–69. https://doi.org/10.1215/07402775-7085664