French journalist sparks outrage over civilizational superiority claim

By Janna Kadri
Source: Agencies
24 Nov 2024 18:06
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Approximately 1 to 1.5 million Algerians are estimated to have died during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962).

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Screengrab of the interview on CNEWS during which French journalist Eugénie Bastié delivered her controversial remarks.

French journalist Eugénie Bastié has ignited a heated debate after declaring on CNEWS that France possesses a "civilizational superiority" over Algeria. The remarks, made during a televised discussion, have drawn sharp criticism for their colonial undertones and perceived glorification of imperialist ideologies.

Bastié argued that France's capacity for self-critique is a hallmark of Western civilization. "We are a civilization that has a critical perspective on itself, and this is also what makes the West powerful and strong and, for me, a form of civilizational superiority," she stated.

🇫🇷🇩🇿"Il y a une supériorité civilisationnelle de la France sur l'Algérie."
🗣️La frustrée Eugénie Bastié🤢 pic.twitter.com/buKfJdll1j
— Debunker NEWS (@debunker_news) November 23, 2024

The comments quickly drew backlash, with critics accusing her of reviving colonial-era narratives that once legitimized French domination over Algeria and other territories.

The controversy is particularly sensitive given the fraught historical relationship between France and Algeria. Algeria, colonized by France in 1830, endured more than 130 years of colonial rule marked by exploitation, systemic discrimination, and violent suppression of resistance. The country achieved independence in 1962 after a brutal eight-year war that left deep scars on the Algerian nation.

In this piece, I explain why France's barbaric past undermines any claims to "civilization". Although this list of crimes is not exhaustive, it highlights key moments in France's history that reveal a pattern of violence, bloodshed, and exploitation that contradicts its self-proclaimed role as a beacon of civilization.

The Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962)

The Algerian War of Independence was marked by France's systematic use of brutal tactics to suppress the resistance movement led by the National Liberation Front (FLN). Documented testimonies and investigations reveal widespread torture employed by French forces, including electric shocks, beatings, and waterboarding. This era is epitomized by the Battle of Algiers (1956–1957), during which the French military targeted independence fighters and civilians alike.

Earlier atrocities, such as the Sétif and Guelma Massacre (1945), foreshadowed the extreme violence of the war. After a peaceful pro-independence protest escalated, French forces killed up to 45,000 Algerians, razed villages, destroyed agricultural lands, and forcibly relocated civilians into camps, displacing millions. These actions left lasting scars on Algeria, both socially and economically.

Haitian revolution and slave repression (1791–1804)

In Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), enslaved Africans endured horrific conditions under French colonial rule. The island's lucrative sugar plantations were notorious for high mortality rates due to grueling labor and inhumane treatment. During the Haitian Revolution, France resorted to mass killings and torture in an attempt to suppress slave uprisings.

Even after Haiti's successful fight for independence, France imposed a crushing indemnity of 150 million francs in 1825. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for more than a century, ensuring the continued economic exploitation of the world's first Black republic.

Genocide in Madagascar (1947 Uprising)

The 1947 Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule was met with unprecedented violence. Malagasy nationalists demanding independence faced overwhelming repression, with French forces massacring an estimated 30,000 to 90,000 civilians. Entire villages were razed, and indiscriminate killings were used to instill terror. Survivors endured systematic torture, while the rebellion's failure left deep scars on Madagascar's social and economic fabric.

Colonization of Vietnam (1887–1954)

French rule in Vietnam brought decades of exploitation and repression. Forced labor on infrastructure projects and plantations impoverished millions. Mismanagement contributed to the Great Famine of 1945, which killed an estimated 2 million people, around 10% of the population at the time.

Resistance movements like the Viet Minh faced violent crackdowns, with entire communities punished for their support of independence fighters. Executions, forced relocations, and destruction of villages were common tactics employed by the French to maintain control.

Exploitation in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Code de l'Indigénat, a legal framework for colonial rule, forced African populations into unpaid labor under brutal conditions. Infrastructure projects like the Congo-Ocean Railway claimed tens of thousands of lives due to harsh working conditions.

In 1944, the Thiaroye Massacre exposed France's exploitation of African soldiers. Senegalese troops who had fought for France in World War II protested for unpaid wages and fair treatment, only to be met with gunfire, leaving over 300 dead. This massacre symbolized France's broader disregard for its colonial subjects.

Cultural genocide in North Africa

In Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, French colonial policies systematically eroded indigenous cultures. Traditional education systems were dismantled and replaced with French-centric curricula, marginalizing local languages and knowledge. Religious practices, especially Islam, were restricted to undermine cultural identity.

At the same time, fertile lands were seized and redistributed to European settlers, displacing local populations and exacerbating poverty. These policies devastated the region's agrarian economy and entrenched inequality.

Chemical warfare in Morocco (1920s)

During the Rif War (1921–1926), France and Spain used chemical weapons against Berber tribes in northern Morocco. Mustard gas attacks targeted not only resistance fighters but also civilians, contaminating water supplies, farmland, and livestock. These indiscriminate tactics caused severe injuries, deaths, and long-term ecological damage, revealing the ruthlessness of colonial suppression.

Suppression of protests in West Africa

Independence movements in West Africa faced violent repression throughout the colonial period. In 1944, Senegalese soldiers in Thiaroye protested for equal rights and wages but were massacred by French forces.

Post-war uprisings were frequently met with collective punishment, including mass arrests, fines, and destruction of property in villages suspected of anti-colonial activity. These brutal measures delayed independence movements and highlighted France's unwillingness to relinquish control over its colonies.