Algeria: oil and public opinion

Abstract

Hydrocarbon revenues have long played a central role in Algeria, where the non-transparent circumstances of their redistribution have enabled the government to survive the Arab Spring and remain in power despite the socio-economic problems affecting the country. This chapter observes that public debate and repression of public dissent co-exist, while oil and gas revenues are used to co-opt and repress demands for reform voiced by civil society. Open discussion, especially concerning the need for economic diversification, is permitted because it is not seen as particularly dangerous to the regime and because civil society activism has limited impact on decision-making. Although civil society is not able to generate major institutional change at the national level, research institutes, opposition parties, media outlets, some institutional actors and ordinary citizens are increasingly contributing to and shaping the public debate over how oil and gas rents are to be used.