The media plays an important role in shaping public opinion and foreign policy agendas in countries around the world. In Algeria, the media has been a crucial tool for the government to promote its foreign policy goals, especially regarding relations with other African countries. As the largest country in Africa, Algeria has aimed to be a leader on the continent and use its media to support this objective.
This article will analyze how the Algerian government has leveraged the media over the decades to further its African relations and foreign policy. It will begin with an overview of the development of the media landscape in Algeria post-independence. It will then examine how the media was used to buttress Algeria’s anti-imperialist and revolutionary image in the 1960s and 1970s. Next, it will discuss how the government employed the media from the 1980s onwards to rehabilitate Algeria’s standing in Africa after a period of relative isolation. Finally, it will assess the current status of Algerian media in connection to foreign policy goals in Africa.
The article will rely on existing academic studies, reports from international organizations, and Algerian media outlets themselves as sources. By reviewing the literature and evidence on this subject, this article aims to analyze the symbiotic relationship between the Algerian state and media in achieving foreign policy objectives, especially regarding the African continent. The lessons from the Algerian example can provide insights for other developing countries on how to successfully leverage the media for public diplomacy.
Development of the Algerian Media Post-Independence
Following 132 years of French colonial rule, Algeria gained independence in 1962 after a brutal war of liberation. The new socialist government of Ahmed Ben Bella quickly asserted control over the press and media, which had previously been dominated by French settlers and companies. The state took over ownership of major newspapers, radio stations, and printing presses. The 1960s were marked by the nationalization of the press and its use to build the new revolutionary society (Laremont, 2022).
The 1970s saw the introduction of television to Algeria under full state control. Algerian Radio and Television (RTA) was established as the single broadcaster in the country. RTA was oriented towards promoting government policies and ideologies through its news and programming. Beyond domestic consumption, RTA also broadcasted externally towards other African countries as a way to expand Algeria’s influence (Gadant, 1995).
Under Algeria’s socialist model, the media was seen as a critical vehicle to educate citizens and mobilize them towards state-directed goals. There was limited space for independent or privately-owned media. The one-party FLN government kept strict control over messaging and discourse. However, the media landscape began undergoing gradual liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s with greater private participation. Nonetheless, the state retained significant oversight through licensing rules and other restrictive measures (Zoubir, 2009).
Revolutionary Messaging in the 1960s-1970s: Promoting African Liberation
The 1960s and 1970s were marked by Algeria’s revolutionary zeal under leaders like Ben Bella and Houari Boumediene. Having recently won its own independence from France, Algeria positioned itself as a champion of anticolonialism and pan-African liberation. The Algerian government used media and communications extensively to propagate its image as a key supporter of African independence and post-colonial movements.
Algeria hosted the first Pan-African Cultural Festival in 1969, bringing together prominent Black intellectuals, activists, and artists to promote solidarity. The festival received widespread coverage in the Algerian press emphasizing the country’s commitment to the wider African freedom struggle. Algeria also sponsored several independence movements and liberation groups across Africa, including in South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, and Namibia. The Algerian media highlighted the activities of exiled leaders like the ANC to demonstrate Algeria’s leading role (Adjali, 2020).
The polarized geopolitics of the Cold War provided space for Non-Aligned Algeria to advance its interests using media and public diplomacy. The government cultivated relationships with both Western and Eastern bloc countries to obtain aid and trade deals. At the same time, Algerian radio broadcasts focused on revolutionary and anti-imperialist themes to maintain credibility as a progressive voice in Africa and the Global South (Gazibo, 2005).
The enthusiastic promotion of African liberation and post-colonial causes through the press, radio, television, and cultural programming aimed to boost Algeria’s influence on the continent. However, Algeria’s African relations deteriorated in the late 1970s due to political infighting, border conflicts, and resource pressures. The media narrative changed as Algeria shifted inwards during the 1980s.
Rehabilitating Algeria’s Image in Africa from the 1980s
Algeria’s standing within Africa declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to several factors. The 1975 Western Sahara conflict with Morocco severely strained North African relations. Falling oil prices and fiscal mismanagement also led to an economic crisis, distancing Algeria from the continent (Harbeson, 1994). Internal political turmoil following the death of Houari Boumediene in 1978 also isolated the country.
However, Algerian foreign policy from the mid-1980s sought to rehabilitate the country’s image in Africa under new President Chadli Bendjedid. With the economy in crisis, Algeria needed to restore trade and diplomatic ties in Africa. At the same time, winds of change were blowing across Africa with the end of the Cold War, fall of apartheid, and move towards democracy in many countries (Handy, 2016).
Algeria’s state media agencies stepped up efforts to reshape coverage on African relations and improve connections. Algerian Radio and Television expanded sub-Saharan news segments highlighting promising business and trade ventures. The state-run press also showcased the government’s re-engagement with regional issues, especially via multilateral institutions like the Organization for African Unity (OAU) and the Arab Maghreb Union (Johnson, 1994).
Beyond traditional media, Algeria also utilized cultural diplomacy to burnish its image. Algiers hosted the 1986 Pan-African Arts Festival, its first major cultural showcase since the 1960s. The event drew participants and media from across the continent, aimed at reinvigorating Algeria’s African networks. Algeria also took an active role in developing the OAU’s Scientific, Technical, and Research Commission to enhance educational linkages and technical cooperation with other member states (Nyang, 2013).
In the 1990s, Algeria supported the transition to multiparty democracy in countries such as Mali and Niger. The media highlighted Algeria’s model of managed liberalization as appropriate for the African context. However, this period also saw Algeria embroiled in civil conflict domestically, somewhat diminishing its continental standing. Nonetheless, sustained public diplomacy efforts through both traditional and cultural media did help Algeria restore its position in Africa over the long term.
Current Position and Media Role in Shaping Algerian-African Relations
Since the early 2000s, Algeria has regained its status as an influential political and economic force in Africa. The stabilization of domestic politics and rising energy export revenues have facilitated Algeria’s return to prominence regionally and globally. The government has also prioritized expanding commercial and security partnerships in Africa. This revived focus on the continent has been reflected across the Algerian media landscape (Achi, 2022).
State outlets like radio, television, and the Algerian Press Service prominently feature news on Algerian diplomatic exchanges and visits with other African leaders. They highlight agreements made on matters such as trade, infrastructure development, and counterterrorism cooperation. For example, the state press gave positive coverage to the 2018 African Union Summit in Mauritania where President Abdelaziz Bouteflika pushed for continental economic integration (Tlemçani, 2018).
Meanwhile, private newspapers and websites have proliferated since the 1990s, adding diversity to the media environment. These outlets provide more critical analysis of government policies and African foreign relations. For instance, El Watan newspaper called for reforms at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen Algeria’s diplomatic capacity in Africa (Ait Akdim, 2013).
Beyond news, Algerian radio and television networks also promote cultural connections with the rest of Africa. Special programs focus on showcasing common musical and literary heritage. For example, Algerian TV launched “Nostalgie d’Afrique” highlighting the continent’s independence struggles through historic newsreels (Médiamétrie Maghreb, 2022). Algeria has also stepped up educational exchanges and scholarships for African students in alignment with foreign policy objectives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the media in Algeria has played a crucial role in shaping public attitudes and advancing the country’s foreign policy goals in Africa over the post-independence decades. Following a revolutionary anti-colonial phase, Algeria rebranded itself from the 1980s onward as a driver of African development through extensive public diplomacy efforts. Today, both state-run and private media provide coverage that reinforces Algeria’s African relations, despite some criticisms. Looking ahead, Algeria will likely continue leveraging media and communications to cement its position as a leading voice on the continent. The Algerian example provides an insightful case study on how developing nations can harness media for public diplomacy.
References
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