War-weariness reduces metropolitan populations to apathetic indifference toward colonial conflicts

Evidence

Already, well before the O.A.S. campaign and its ugly climax, the outlook towards Algeria of the French majority had passed through phases of disenchantment and cynicism to reach one of pure apathy. By the latter part of 1961 it was approaching that of the “don’t-want-to-know” British over Northern Ireland in the mid-1970s. Algeria had been in the headlines just too long; the country was fed up with rebellious generals, raucous pieds noirs, murderous fellaghas, anti-French diatribes at the United Nations and fruitless peace talks. Once again there were many more immediate problems at home demanding attention. There was more discontent on the social scene. Because of the rate of inflation, the syndicats were angered by a wage increase limited to only 2.25 per cent, and December saw a new spate of strikes in the public sector. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1537

Categorization

• XREF: Links to the concept of metropolitan withdrawal and the ‘don’t-want-to-know’ dynamic, which parallels other decolonization exoduses and the reader’s theme of the French Revolution generating then abandoning the colonial project. — connects to: Living under looming war requires adapting psychologically to permanent low-grade dread — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 138; Rural life absorbs a directionless war better than urban life does — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 274; Conflict is a positive force distinct from mere indifference — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 276

Related

• Rural life absorbs a directionless war better than urban life does (similarity 0.80)
• A lingering Algerian hatred of French rule simmers until it erupts into war (similarity 0.80)
• French metropolitan public had grown apathetic about Algeria by late 1961. (similarity 0.79)
• Metropolitan France was largely oblivious to the gravity of the Algiers crisis. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Living under looming war requires adapting psychologically to permanent low-grade dread #expands (0.60) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 138