(Re)building Algiers: Racial Segregation in the “Republican” Empire

Racial segregation in Algiers under French colonial rule was not enforced through formal legal structures but emerged from a sustained process of erasure, racial violence, and expropriation. This study reveals that despite the absence of explicit policies like public health codes or racial covenants, the city's spatial divisions were deeply entrenched, with European settlements expanding outward while the native Algerian population was confined to densely populated areas like the Casbah. The research highlights how these segregated spaces, though invisible in formal governance, became sites of resistance and solidarity for Algerians. The study employs a historical approach to unpack the mechanisms behind this segregation, emphasizing its role in limiting urban possibilities for Algerians while simultaneously fostering zones of resilience.

Beaujon, D. (2026). (RE)BUILDING ALGIERS: Racial Segregation in the “Republican” Empire. Capture/Connect/Shift. https://doi.org/10.14506/ob.ccs.02