Local Media, Torture, and French Intellectuals in Algeria during the French Colonial Period – Maurice Nadeau and Manifesto of the 121

Abstract

During the period of French colonial rule, the Algerian Revolution attracted considerable international sympathy, largely as a result of the propaganda initiatives undertaken by the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) to publicize this major revolutionary struggle. Support came from various parts of the world, particularly from other colonized societies. The prominence of the Algerian Revolution was further reinforced by expressions of solidarity from certain French figures, notably members of the French intellectual elite, including writers and journalists. Some of these individuals formally articulated their opposition to French practices toward Algerians by signing public declarations, most notably the Statement on the Right to Civil Disobedience in the Algerian War (Manifesto of the 121), endorsed by 121 French intellectuals. While some of the signatories are well documented, information concerning the professional and political trajectories of others, such as Maurice Nadeau, remains limited. This study seeks to present Nadeau as one of the signatories of this statement.