Algerian Spring: Possibility or Utopia?
Tereza Hyánková University of Pardubice (CZ)
Questions
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I will focus on:
How can we explain that the Algerian regime did not
change?
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Is there a possibility it will happen in the near future?
Algerian protests
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1988 change of political regime
Protests in Kabylia (Bejaia, Tizi
Ouzou) since 1980
Protests on 29 December 2010
(unemployment, the lack of
housing, food-price inflation,
corruption)
Self-immolations (since January
2010)
Protests in January and February
2011 (echo of Egyptian events)
Local protests
Multiple factors:
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Failure of the democratic transition in 1990 – skepticism towards
political change, fear of violence
Absence of a dominant leader that would symbolize the
authoritarian regime and on which the rage and frustrations of
people can focus
Reaction of Algerian government – repressions x lowering of food
prices (oil, flour), social benefits; political reforms
Disintegrated political opposition; lack of trust and support of
Algerian population for existing opposition political parties
Berber-Arab division
Absence of initial enthusiasm and eagerness concerning
revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya
Failure of the democratic transition in 1990
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1990, 1991 municipal and parliamentary
elections: victory of the FIS
(Front islamique du salut)
Cancelation of the second round of
parliamentary elections
Persecution of the FIS
Terrorism – GIA (Groupe islamique armé),
100 000 – 200 000 estimated victims
Absence of a symbol of the authoritarian regime
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There is no person that would symbolize the authoritarian regime and
on which the rage and frustrations of people can focus as it
happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya
The whole system is the cause of frustration of Algerian population
Rallies and riots – regular and ordinary events in Algeria
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Abdelaziz Bouteflika
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Reactions of Algerian government
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Repressions
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Lowering of food prices
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Social benefits
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Possible: oil revenues
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Lifting of state of emergency
(since 1992)
Reactions of Algerian government
6.
Political reforms - revision of the Constitution:
Revision of the election law
Revision of the law on political parties
Promulgation of the law concerning
representation of women in parliament
Strengthening of prerogatives of local assemblies
Extension of the association movement sphere
Revision of the information code
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Threatening by Islamism and Berberism
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5.
Disintegrated political opposition
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FLN (Front de la libération national)
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RND (Rassemblement national démocratique) – Ahmed Ouyahia
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„Kabyle“ parties: FFS (Front des Forces Socialistes), RCD (Rassemblement
pour la Culture et la Démocratie)
Islamists: MSP (Mouvement de la société pour la paix, Frères musulmans),
Ennahda, FIS (banned)
CNCD (Coordination nationale pour le changement démocratique)
RCD, Ennahada, PST (Parti sociliste des trvailleurs)
May elections 2012
Source: www.north-africa.com
Multiple factors:
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Failure of the democratic transition in 1990 – skepticism towards
political change, fear of violence
Absence of one person that would symbolizes the authoritarian
regime and on which the rage and frustrations of people can focus
Reaction of Algerian government – repressions, lowering of food
prices (oil, flour), social benefits; small political changes
Disintegrated political opposition; small trust and support of
Algerian population for existing opposition political parties
Berber-Arab division
Absence of initial enthusiasm and eagerness concerning
revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya
Thank you for your attention.
Tereza Hyánková
tereza.hyankova@upce.cz