A "Capital of Hope and Disappointments": North African Families in Marseille Shantytowns and Social Housing. Issue 1 (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, Dustin Alan
• Is Part Of: French politics, culture & society. Volume 40:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: Algerians -- decolonization -- immigration -- integration -- North Africans -- shantytowns -- social housing -- social welfare; France -- Politics and government -- 1958- -- Periodicals; France -- Civilization -- 1945- -- Periodicals; France -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; France -- History -- 20th century -- Periodicals; France -- History -- 21st century -- Periodicals; 320.944
• DOI: 10.3167/fpcs.2022.400103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-6370

Abstract

Abstract: This article traces the history of specialized social housing for North African families living in shantytowns in Marseille from the early 1950s to the mid-1970s. During the Algerian War, social housing assistance formed part of a welfare network that exclusively sought to "integrate" Algerian migrants into French society. Through shantytown clearance and rehousing initiatives, government officials and social service providers encouraged shantytown-dwelling Algerian families to adopt the customs of France's majority White population. Following the Algerian War, France moved away from delivering Algerian-focused welfare and instead developed an expanded immigrant welfare network. Despite this shift, some officials and social service providers remained fixated on the presence and ethno-racial differences of Algerians and other North Africans in Marseille's shantytowns. Into the mid-1970s, this fixation shaped local social assistance and produced discord between the promise and implementation of specialized social housing that hindered shantytown-dwelling North African families' incorporation into French society.