In 1962. There is a fascinating study to read on the growth and failure of the Algerian wine industry. In essence, there was a sequence of Colonize Algeria, steal lands, give your soldiers the lands, promote wine production with usury, build export business on false economy, too much wine, economic downturn, terrorism, and poverty and instability to follow. Today there is virtually no wine exported from Algeria.
As I believe violence makes the situation worse, I'd argue the troubles in Algeria today are based on the violence used to bring the current group into power, sort of socialist Moslems, which is beset by fundamentalist Muslims.
We have a habit of taking a snapshot of a land, say Algeria, and decide that such is the natural state of Islam. That would ignore about 750 years of history. And ignore the fact that the Moslems were originally welcomed by the locals, anything to get out from under the horrors of heretical and apostasied Christian rulers. Who can say why conditions are now what they are, but we cannot say it is for lack of ability or something inherent in the religion.
As usual, policy can make life very good for a few while denying the majority their hopes and dreams. The Christian West derived invaluable insights from Islam coming out of the "dark ages" and perhaps the favor could be returned. The Roman Church has put out a document that where it proposes solutions to matters of politics and economics, A devote Muslim can read to advantage.
I think it is a dangerous thing to cripple a country with policies and then criticize that country for being crippled. What goes around comes around. Better to say let's make this good and unilaterally offer free trade. The Church recommends it.
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