Benjamin Stora blames French authorities for stalling historical reconciliation

During the Algiers International Book Fair, historian Benjamin Stora delivered a harsh assessment of the current deadlock between France and Algeria, placing the responsibility squarely on French officials. Stora accused Paris of backtracking on previous memory-related initiatives, arguing that the French government is trapped in political amnesia and identity-based posturing. According to the researcher, the French establishment prioritizes electoral interests and anti-migrant rhetoric—such as questioning the 1968 agreements—over a genuine confrontation with its colonial history. This political paralysis, he suggests, empowers nostalgia for French Algeria and prevents sincere reconciliation. He noted that the diplomatic tension reflects a wider struggle where historical issues are sacrificed for domestic political gains. In his new book, 'A Historian and Images,' Stora advocates for the recognition of past traumas as the only path to overcoming recurring crises and ensuring that history is accurately passed on to younger generations.