Algeria's vineyards: an Islamic dilemma and a problem of decolonisation

Abstract

Abstract Algeria's viticultural industry represents an example of the way a colonial legacy can turn into a problem of dependency, the solution to which represents an issue of decolonisation and adjustment. An added dimension is the cultural inappropriateness of viticultural production in an increasingly Islamic country. By late colonial times Algeria's wine exports represented over half of its exports by value. To add economic independence to political independence threatened serious financial and employment losses, so any opportunity to avoid the reconversion of the now culturally inappropriate vineyards seemed attractive. Eventually, with the growth of hydrocarbon revenues, the reconversion and reconstitution of Algeria's vineyards proved possible during the 1970s. However, 20 years after independence, Algeria still had nearly half the 1962 area of vineyards, though with markedly lower yields and marketing at lower prices. The colonial legacy has now turned into an economic liability and has been tackl...