The Algerian Crisis as Portrayed in the German Press: Media Coverage of Political Islam

Abstract

The coverage of the Algerian crisis in the opinion-leading German press in the period of 1991-95 reveals serious deficits, both from the perspective of communication theory and Oriental studies. While journalists tended to approach Algeria, like most other developing countries, with a conflict perspective emphasizing events of violence and civil war, the integration of Islamic fundamentalism into the political process resulted in additional limitations of the press agenda. During the decisive months of democratization, German public opinion tended to identify fundamentalists with totalitarian forces and as a threat to the Mediterranean world, while the legitimacy of the cancellation of the parliamentary elections was rarely discussed. The question must be posed, whether structural deficits in the field of information and education as well as one-sided traditions of intercultural perception could endanger the important function of the democratic press as informer of public opinion about international affairs, advocate of democratic developments and co-designer of foreign policy.