Apostles of Modernity: Saint-Simonians and the Civilizing Mission in Algeria

344 Pages·2010·1.88 MB·English

by  Osama Abi-Mershed

Apostles of Modernity

Apostles of Modernity
Saint-Simonians and the Civilizing Mission in Algeria
Osama W. Abi-Mershed
;
Stanford University Press
Stanford, California
Stanford University Press
Stanford, California
©2010 by Osama W. Abi-Mershed. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written
permission of Stanford University Press.
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free, archival-quality paper
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Abi-Mershed, Osama.
Apostles of modernity : Saint-Simonians and the civilizing
mission in Algeria / Osama W. Abi-Mershed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8047-6909-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Algeria—Politics and government—1830–1962. 2. France. Armée.
Armée d’Afrique—Offi cers—Political activity—Algeria. 3. Assimilation
(Sociology)—France—Colonies—History—19th century. 4. France—
Colonies—Africa—Administration. 5. Saint-Simon, Henri, comte de,
1760–1825—Infl uence. I. Title. DT294.A234 2010
965'.03—dc22
2009050167
Typeset by Motto Publishing Services in 10/12 Sabon
For Tata, for helping me keep life in perspective.

Contents
List of Illustrations, ix
Acknowledgments, xi
Introduction:
Republicanism Deferred, 1
1. Never the Twain Shall Meet? 17
2. The Moral Conquest, 34
3. Impermanent Monstrosities, 71
4. Lights Out, 96
5. Raised in Our Care, 123
6. Napoleon, Emperor of the Arabs, 159
Conclusion:
Another Napoleon, Another Waterloo, 201
Appendices
1. Chronology, 1830–1870, 213
2. Ministers and Administrators, 1830–1871, 219
3. Directorate of Arab Affairs, 227
4. Biographical Index, 232
5. Project for the Organization of Muslim Public Instruction,
June 5, 1849, 238
6. Presidential Decree of July 14, 1850, 244
7. Presidential Decree of September 30, 1850, 250
viii Contents
Notes, 253
Bibliography, 300
Index, 317
Illustrations
Tables
2.1. E nrollment in the Mutual School of Algiers, November 15,
1838 62
3.1. Strength of the Arab Bureaux, 1841–1881 80
3.2. F irst- and Second-Class Bureaux, 1847 and 1864 81
3.3. C over Sheet for Annual Statistical Report, Circle of Biskra, August
1844 83
4.1. I ndigenous Primary Schools and Students in Algiers,
1837–1850 99
4.2. I ndigenous Schools and Students in Constantine, 1837 and
1847 100
4.3. A nnual Percentage Changes in Total European Population, Pub-
lic Ownership of Productive Lands, and Hectares per Capita,
1844–1850 101
5.1. S ample Entries in Bureau Inspection Reports on Muslim
Schools 148
5.2. I nstructors in the Circle of Teniet el-Had, April and July 1858:
Age, Familial Status, and Number of Students 152
5.3. F indings of the Bresnier Inquiry of March 25, 1858 153
6.1. F rench Civilians in Proportion to the Total European Population of
Algeria, 1836–1861 172
6.2. P lacement of Native Graduates of the Imperial Arab-French Col-
lege of Algiers, 1865 and 1866 192
6.3. Distribution of Grants in the École Normale Primaire d’Alger 193
6.4. Arab-French Schools, 1850–1873 196
6.5. A nnual School Inspection Report from the Circle of Laghouat,
December 19, 1865 198