The New White Race: Settler Colonialism and the Press in French Algeria, 1860-1914

The New White Race explores the development of the press in Algeria between 1860 and 1914, examining how journalists shaped the power dynamics of settler colonialism. It highlights the production practices, professional networks, and strategic-linguistic choices mobilized by journalists to influence the sentiments of their readers and the decisions of the French state.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Between 1860 and 1914, the press in Algeria played a pivotal role in shaping the power dynamics of settler colonialism. Despite various constraints imposed on free expression in a colonial context, diverse groups of European settlers, Algerian Muslims, and Algerian Jews turned to the press to articulate their hopes and fears for the future of the land they inhabited. These imagined communities, while not necessarily aligned with the nation-states of France or Algeria, framed processes of identification that were both local and transnational.

The New White Race delves into these processes of cultural and political identification, highlighting the production practices, professional networks, and strategic-linguistic choices mobilized by journalists as they sought to influence the sentiments of their readers and the decisions of the French state. Settler journalists, driven by the desire to increase the autonomy of the settler colony without compromising the protections afforded by their French rulers, announced the creation of a "new white race" among the mixed European population of Algeria. However, their ambivalent expressions of "French" belonging reflected tensions among the colonizers, which were skillfully exploited by those seeking to transform or contest French imperial rule.

The press in Algeria became a battleground for competing ideologies and narratives, with journalists using their platforms to promote their own visions of the future. They employed various tactics, such as sensationalism, propaganda, and selective reporting, to shape public opinion and influence political decisions. The press also played a crucial role in mobilizing support for nationalist movements and advocating for the rights of Algerian Muslims and Jews.

Despite the challenges faced by the press in a colonial context, it remained a powerful tool for shaping the cultural and political landscape of Algeria. The legacy of settler journalism continues to be felt today, as the country continues to grapple with the legacies of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for identity and self-determination.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496208507