Markets of Civilization: Islam and Racial Capitalism in Algeria

In Markets of Civilization, Muriam Haleh Davis explores how Islam became a racial category in colonial and postcolonial Algeria, leading to discriminatory political and economic structures. This racial regime of religion was implemented by French officials to modernize society and discourage anticolonial nationalism. Following independence, convictions about the link between religious beliefs and economic behavior continued to influence development policies, with Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella embracing Algerian socialism and French technocrats seeing Algeria as a testing ground for development projects.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her groundbreaking work, "Markets of Civilization," Muriam Haleh Davis delves into the intricate history of racial capitalism, shedding light on how Islam became a defining racial category that shaped economic development in colonial and postcolonial Algeria. French officials in Paris and Algiers introduced a discriminatory "racial regime of religion" that subjected Algerian Muslims to unequal political and economic structures. These experts believed that introducing a market economy would modernize society and undermine anticolonial nationalism. However, their reforms were driven by racial assumptions, even though the French state claimed to be color-blind.

Post-independence, convictions about the relationship between religious beliefs and economic behavior continued to influence development policies. Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella embraced a socialist ideology rooted in Islamic principles, while French technocrats viewed Algeria as a testing ground for development projects in other parts of the Global South. Davis meticulously highlights the entanglements of race and religion, demonstrating how economic orthodoxies played a significant role in shaping understandings of national identity on both sides of the Mediterranean during the decolonization process.

This book is a crucial contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics of race, religion, and economic power in the history of Algeria and beyond. It sheds light on the ways in which colonialism and globalization intersected to shape the political and economic landscape of the region, and provides valuable insights into the ongoing struggles for social justice and equality.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478015871