Les Harkis en France: Carte d'identité française, identité harkie à la carte?

Abstract

The Harkis constitute a heterogeneous group whose generic name was originally nothing more than an administrative construct during the Algerian War. Some studies have highlighted the absence of an overriding sense of common identity as a group: it is not unusual for the Harkis' offspring to express a feeling of belonging to the Harki, French, Beur and/or Algerian groups. Some studies continue to stress the specificity and uniqueness of their position in France, some insist on their French citizenship, whereas others still underline their specificity while insisting on their French citizenship. This article, after analysing their struggle for identity as well as the role played by the French state through measures adopted since 1962, is primarily concerned with identifying the factors prompting the Harkis' offspring to seek a distinctive Harki identity—namely the 'Other', history, memory and especially the official recognition by France of its betrayal and shameful treatment of the Harkis.