Religious Elements of the Algerian Civil War

Abstract

The Algerian Civil War, which began in 1992 is considered to be one of the most brutal armed conflicts of the post-Cold War era. The democratic processes, which originally began as part of the overall changes in the country, turned into violent acts as soon as the possibility arose, that a party with an agenda considered conservative and religious, that would threaten the position of the ruling elite, may be elected. This article seeks to demonstrate the processes leading to armed violence, the goals and activities of radical organisations and extremist armed groups as well as the reconciliation process focusing on the religious backgrounds of the civil war.