"No Fixed Values”:: A Reinterpretation of the Theory of Guerre Révolutionnaire

M.L.R. Smith; Cradock C

"No Fixed Values”: A Reinterpretation of the Theory of Guerre Révolutionnaire

War Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The so-called Battle of Algiers (1956–1957) was a pivotal event in the history of French decolonization and was controversial because it involved brutality and the use of torture. The tactical success of the French Army in the battle has been credited to the theory of guerre révolutionnaire, which evolved in French military thinking after the army's debacle in Indochina. The theory situated anti-colonial insurgencies within the Cold War struggle of Western values against Communism. This article reevaluates earlier claims about the theory's efficacy and shows that ultimately the methods used by the French during the Battle of Algiers can be explained more by factors related to the contingent historical experiences of the French army than by the influence of guerre révolutionnaire.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	66-105
Number of pages	39
Journal	Journal of Cold War Studies
Volume	9
Issue number	8
Publication status	Published - 2007

Keywords

Cold War
Battle of Algiers
COIN
Counterinsurgency

Cite this

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abstract = "The so-called Battle of Algiers (1956–1957) was a pivotal event in the history of French decolonization and was controversial because it involved brutality and the use of torture. The tactical success of the French Army in the battle has been credited to the theory of guerre r{\'e}volutionnaire, which evolved in French military thinking after the army's debacle in Indochina. The theory situated anti-colonial insurgencies within the Cold War struggle of Western values against Communism. This article reevaluates earlier claims about the theory's efficacy and shows that ultimately the methods used by the French during the Battle of Algiers can be explained more by factors related to the contingent historical experiences of the French army than by the influence of guerre r{\'e}volutionnaire.",

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author = "M.L.R. Smith and Cradock C",

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AU - Smith, M.L.R.

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AB - The so-called Battle of Algiers (1956–1957) was a pivotal event in the history of French decolonization and was controversial because it involved brutality and the use of torture. The tactical success of the French Army in the battle has been credited to the theory of guerre révolutionnaire, which evolved in French military thinking after the army's debacle in Indochina. The theory situated anti-colonial insurgencies within the Cold War struggle of Western values against Communism. This article reevaluates earlier claims about the theory's efficacy and shows that ultimately the methods used by the French during the Battle of Algiers can be explained more by factors related to the contingent historical experiences of the French army than by the influence of guerre révolutionnaire.

KW - Cold War

KW - Battle of Algiers

KW - COIN

KW - Counterinsurgency

M3 - Article

SN - 1520-3972

VL - 9

SP - 66

EP - 105

JO - Journal of Cold War Studies

JF - Journal of Cold War Studies

IS - 8

ER -

"No Fixed Values”: A Reinterpretation of the Theory of Guerre Révolutionnaire

Abstract

Keywords

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