The Mirage of the Nation-State in Algeria

Algeria reveals a central paradox of postcolonial politics: the persistence of the nation-state ideal alongside a deep failure to realise it in practice. This book reinterprets state failure, arguing that in the Algerian case, it should not be equated with collapse but understood as a structural condition in which institutions endure while failing to fulfil core political and social functions. Focusing on Algeria’s trajectory from independence, this book examines the forces that have constrained institution-building, including elite fragmentation, rent-based governance and enduring deficits of legitimacy, accountability and the rule of law. It also probes the relationship between state power and citizenship, questioning whether rights can be meaningfully exercised when the state does not guarantee their protection. By positioning Algeria as a case of non-collapsed state failure, the book offers a new lens on governance and the limits of the nation-state in postcolonial contexts.