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France

How an 18th-Century Shipwreck Changed France’s Conversation About Race

The Island of the Forgotten Enslaved

The story of the enslaved Malagasy abandoned by French sailors following the wreck of L’Utile reveals the deep-seated racism prevalent in 18th-century French society. The subsequent outcry, both from the public and from prominent intellectuals, marked a turning point in views of slavery in France.

A Movie Stoked Political Movements Across the Globe

‘The Battle of Algiers’ and Insurgencies

Many articles, across magazines, journals and websites, claim “The Battle of Algiers” was a major influence on the Black Panthers, the IRA and the Pentagon’s invasion of Iraq in 2003. Digging into these claims reveals how the film turned into an instruction manual on insurgency and counterinsurgency.

Shooting the War in Syria

Shooting the War in Syria

Although the aftermath of the war in Syria continues, artworks that repurpose photographs of the war may contribute to a renewed narrative. Art makes the viewer reflect on time and all the opportunities lost. Eventually, perhaps, the art helps us make sense of the war.

France’s Atomic Legacy in Algeria

France’s Atomic Legacy in Algeria

To date, France hasn’t disclosed the real toll of contamination, nor has it revealed the location coordinates of all testing sites and nuclear waste, which it dispersed in different areas or merely buried a few feet underground.

The Gangs of Calais

The Gangs of Calais

I wanted to understand the gangs that smuggle refugees into the U.K., so I infiltrated one. For months, I pretended to be an economic migrant from Pakistan stuck in France. I wanted to understand how gangs managed to move refugees and migrants across the sea from Calais to Dover.

The Long and Troubled History of the French Republic and Islam

The Long and Troubled History of the French Republic and Islam

Ever since Napoleon disembarked at Alexandria, France has had a complicated relationship with North Africa and Islam. Over the centuries it has been marked by politics, power, betrayal and misunderstandings.

Where Laïcité Collides with Islam

Where Laïcité Collides with Islam

Behind the French legal code separating state and religion, and why Emmanuel Macron's attempt to incorporate Islam into it is provoking anger among Muslims.