Algiers and the French Revolution: Intertwining Models of Change

During the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, while many nations offered reflections and paradigms to the revolutionary intelligentsia, one of the most surprising influences came from North Africa, specifically, Algiers. An exploration of the intricate relationship between Algiers and the conceptual roots of the French Revolution can reveal the depth and breadth of the revolutionary intellectual landscape.

First, it’s important to contextualize Algiers’ political system during the eighteenth century. While by today’s standards, Algiers cannot be deemed a democratic republic with its entrenched electoral systems and routine power transitions, for its time, it was a remarkable exception. Amid a world dominated by monarchies, Algiers stood out as a “quasi-democratic anomaly.” It boasted a peculiar form of democracy, uniquely electing its rulers—a distinction it held not only among Muslim states but even within the broader European context of the eighteenth century. This elective system was so entrenched that individuals could ascend from humble origins, through merit and public approval, to the highest echelons of power. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one of the leading thinkers of the Enlightenment, expressed admiration for this system. Highlighting the journey of a dey who rose from being a simple sailor to the state’s pinnacle, Rousseau emphasized the democratic ethos embedded within the Algerian power structure, marked by the universal suffrage of key societal segments.

Given its unique political system, Algiers became an influential reference point for French thinkers and revolutionaries. Numerous philosophes and intellectuals of the time considered Algiers a model of religious freedom and republicanism. In many ways, the North African state served as a “dark mirror” for the French Republic, reflecting ideals that France aspired to integrate. Such was Algiers’ influence that elements of its governance and political ethos were reportedly incorporated into the foundational documents of the French Revolution. An American historian even went so far as to suggest that the Dey of Algiers indirectly contributed to the French constitution, dubbing him a “Founding Father.”

Apart from the democratic underpinnings, many revolutionary principles that gained prominence during the French Revolution had roots or parallels in Muslim North Africa. Ideas of rebelling against tyranny, fraternity, equality, and simplicity resonated with themes found in the Muslim world. Moreover, Ottoman Muslims played a pivotal role in shaping French discussions about religious tolerance and the coexistence of diverse societies. Islam, as perceived by the French, exemplified a society where religious freedom prevailed and posed no barriers to societal harmony.

Drawing a parallel between the French Revolution and religious movements, it is interesting to note how the revolution was often equated to Islam’s meteoric rise in the seventh century. Both revolutions marked significant breaks from their respective pasts. The French Revolution was a departure from absolutism, hierarchical societal structures, dogmatic supernaturalism, and religious persecution. Similarly, Islam in the seventh century represented a monumental shift, challenging established religious, social, and political orders. Both movements were abrupt and driven by the common populace against elite structures. If one were to evaluate revolutions based on their purpose, means, and results, few could rival the scale and success of Islam’s seventh-century upheaval. Islam’s influence extended beyond just religious beliefs; it transformed empires, systems, and entire dynasties. The French Revolution, in its essence and impact, was reminiscent of this Islamic transformative wave. As a Swiss writer aptly noted, history offers scant examples of revolutions that drastically altered both government and religion within a short span. In this context, Mahomet’s (Muhammad’s) leadership during Islam’s rise was likened to the transformative forces steering the French Revolution.

In summation, the eighteenth-century French Revolution, with its sweeping societal changes, drew inspiration and parallels from various sources, notably Algiers and the Islamic world. Algiers, with its unique democratic system, served as an influential model for French revolutionary thought. Simultaneously, the foundational principles of Islam and its historical upheavals provided philosophical parallels and validation for the revolutionary changes France was undergoing. Through this complex interplay of ideas and histories, one can appreciate the truly global tapestry of influences that shaped the French Revolution.