Soustelle Plan
Encyclopedia
The Soustelle Plan was a reform program envisioned by Jacques Soustelle
, then governor general of Algeria
, for the improvement of several administrative, political, social and economic works with the emphasized integration of Muslim Algerians within the French
system. The plan was proposed to the French government in June 1955 but was never fully implemented.
Soustelle’s first concern for the implementation of his plan was to inject funds into the Algerian economy for small improvement projects designed to have immediate effect. After a short struggle with the finance ministry in Paris
, an allocation of 4,300 million francs was obtained. Thereafter, Soustelle engaged in social-political reforms by sending out a circular, making it compulsory on all persons in authority to pursue a “policy of consideration and confidence”. His intention was to eradicate the superiority complex which the European population had adopted in terms of discrimination and condescension towards the Arab-Algerian populace. Thirdly, Soustelle took into consideration the agricultural situation of Algeria as this was the primary source of revenue for the country. However, there were several obstacles; erosion
had claimed 100000 acres (404.7 km²) per year. Furthermore, there was an overpopulation problem in Algeria
; the Muslim
population was growing at the alarming rate where production fell behind the birth rate
dramatically. To meet the challenge of the country side, Soustelle administered an agency with wide powers to acquire public and private land for retribution to Muslim
peasants and to secure land beneficiaries with the technical and financial assistance which could improve new holdings. He also expanded the existing facilities such as the Provident Societies and Rural Improvement Sectors. He also abolished the cultural phenomenon of khammessat, a share cropping system under which the tenant got one fifth of the crop and the landowner four-fifths. As the cost of power in Algeria was 60% higher than in metropolitan France; Soustelle advocated lower costs of power which increased industrialization. He sought to amalgamate the Algerian Gas and Power Company with the nationalized Electricité de France
or through a system of tax relief. Fourthly, Soustelle had concerns about the social structure of the country also. Only 29% of civil jobs were held by Muslims the rest were occupied by Europeans. To amend this anomaly, Soustelle instituted an Administration Training Center in Algiers, as a means of finding apt Muslim
candidates for suitable jobs. He also attempted, without success, to implement a system whereby qualified Muslims would be exempted from completing any competitive entry examination. Likewise, Soustelle was passionate about schools. He fought for funding to build 1,200 schools instead of the originally planned 600 schools. Faced with an overwhelming amount of requests from teachers that wanted to leave the unsettled areas of Algeria
, he hired supplementary teachers to keep the schools open. Likewise, he proposed the study of Arabic made compulsory or at least optional in all schools. He also planned to envelop the country with social centers which would combat illiteracy, promote hygiene and encourage small crafts. Fifthly, the administrative system needed several revisions. His goal was to reduce the large territory division into more manageable units and to bring administration closer to the people. He intended to create several departments to aid him. Soustelle proposed to divide the previous administrative townships into smaller rural townships each corresponding with their own natural community. Soustelle envisaged that the rural townships would remain under the subtle tutelage of the administration until they were ready to self-govern themselves. Finally to fill in the vacuum between the civil administrator and the dispersed inhabitants Soustelle set up 400 Specialized Administration Sections (S.A.S) to be manned by a new corps of Algerian Affairs officer. Amongst their many duties were to create a protective web for populations that might be subject to rebels or trammeled by the army or both.
The Soustelle Plan was submitted to the French government in June 1955; however it was never fully carried out in all the planned prospects.
Jacques Soustelle
Jacques Soustelle was an important and early figure of the Free French Forces and an anthropologist specializing in pre-Columbian civilizations. He became vice-director of the Musée de l'Homme in Paris in 1938. He was elected to the Académie française in 1983.- Biography :Jacques Soustelle was...
, then governor general of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, for the improvement of several administrative, political, social and economic works with the emphasized integration of Muslim Algerians within the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
system. The plan was proposed to the French government in June 1955 but was never fully implemented.
Soustelle’s first concern for the implementation of his plan was to inject funds into the Algerian economy for small improvement projects designed to have immediate effect. After a short struggle with the finance ministry in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, an allocation of 4,300 million francs was obtained. Thereafter, Soustelle engaged in social-political reforms by sending out a circular, making it compulsory on all persons in authority to pursue a “policy of consideration and confidence”. His intention was to eradicate the superiority complex which the European population had adopted in terms of discrimination and condescension towards the Arab-Algerian populace. Thirdly, Soustelle took into consideration the agricultural situation of Algeria as this was the primary source of revenue for the country. However, there were several obstacles; erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
had claimed 100000 acres (404.7 km²) per year. Furthermore, there was an overpopulation problem in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
; the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
population was growing at the alarming rate where production fell behind the birth rate
Birth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
dramatically. To meet the challenge of the country side, Soustelle administered an agency with wide powers to acquire public and private land for retribution to Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
peasants and to secure land beneficiaries with the technical and financial assistance which could improve new holdings. He also expanded the existing facilities such as the Provident Societies and Rural Improvement Sectors. He also abolished the cultural phenomenon of khammessat, a share cropping system under which the tenant got one fifth of the crop and the landowner four-fifths. As the cost of power in Algeria was 60% higher than in metropolitan France; Soustelle advocated lower costs of power which increased industrialization. He sought to amalgamate the Algerian Gas and Power Company with the nationalized Electricité de France
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
or through a system of tax relief. Fourthly, Soustelle had concerns about the social structure of the country also. Only 29% of civil jobs were held by Muslims the rest were occupied by Europeans. To amend this anomaly, Soustelle instituted an Administration Training Center in Algiers, as a means of finding apt Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
candidates for suitable jobs. He also attempted, without success, to implement a system whereby qualified Muslims would be exempted from completing any competitive entry examination. Likewise, Soustelle was passionate about schools. He fought for funding to build 1,200 schools instead of the originally planned 600 schools. Faced with an overwhelming amount of requests from teachers that wanted to leave the unsettled areas of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, he hired supplementary teachers to keep the schools open. Likewise, he proposed the study of Arabic made compulsory or at least optional in all schools. He also planned to envelop the country with social centers which would combat illiteracy, promote hygiene and encourage small crafts. Fifthly, the administrative system needed several revisions. His goal was to reduce the large territory division into more manageable units and to bring administration closer to the people. He intended to create several departments to aid him. Soustelle proposed to divide the previous administrative townships into smaller rural townships each corresponding with their own natural community. Soustelle envisaged that the rural townships would remain under the subtle tutelage of the administration until they were ready to self-govern themselves. Finally to fill in the vacuum between the civil administrator and the dispersed inhabitants Soustelle set up 400 Specialized Administration Sections (S.A.S) to be manned by a new corps of Algerian Affairs officer. Amongst their many duties were to create a protective web for populations that might be subject to rebels or trammeled by the army or both.
The Soustelle Plan was submitted to the French government in June 1955; however it was never fully carried out in all the planned prospects.