Jessica Ayesha Northey - Civil Society in Algeria: Activism, Identity and the Democratic Process

CONTENTS

This book is a result of support from the European University Institute in Florence, from the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations in Coventry University and from hundreds of Algerian associations who participated in this project to understand more about civil society in Algeria. I extend heartfelt thanks to Olivier Roy, Lahouari Addi, Pascal Vennesson and Patrick Crowley who offered their expertise, as did Bahar Baser, Leila Hadj-Abdou, Tamirace Fakhoury and Benoit Challand. Exceptional colleagues in Algeria Assia Harbi, Tric Boucebci, Ahmed Bouchetata, Youcef Rahmi, Ahmed Djebara, Mohamed Hadj Hammouda, Ferial Assia Selhab, Belkacem Messaoudi, Faycel Hattab, Zoubida Kouti, Tarik Loumassine, Karima Slimani and Madjid Azzoug (and their families) invested much time supporting the fieldwork over the last decade. It was a privilege to have spoken with Abdelmadjid Harbi, Youcef Hadj Ali, Francis Ghils, Robert Parks, Omar Derras, Brahim Salhi, Anouar Benmalek, Yahia Belaskri and Maissa Bey, who all gave useful feedback and encouragement. Annette Boucebcis friendship, and her endless optimism and love for Algeria, made the fieldwork so much more inspiring. From the associations, many people gave their precious time, on top of their dedication to improving conditions, in social, cultural and environmental aspects of Algerian life. Ahmed Daoud, Houaria Djebarri, Djamila Hamitou, Mohamed Ider, Cherifa Kheddar, Kouider Metair, Khelil Moussaoui and Saleh Tirichine are a few of the inspirational people who are behind the case studies and interviews discussed throughout this book. Earlier versions of some of the material in appear in Algerian Heritage Associations: National Identity and Rediscovering the Past, in Patrick Crowley (ed.) Algeria: Nation, Culture and Tansnationalism, 19882016, reprinted by permission of Liverpool University Press. I am grateful to I.B.Tauris, to Sophie Rudland the editor, and to the excellent anonymous reviewers, for taking on this manuscript and these different perspectives on Algerian civil society. Finally, Matthew, my family and my mother Julie in particular, have all provided moral and editorial support to ensure these stories can be told with the minimum of eloquence they deserve.