Faced with the multipolar world, what place for Algeria?
In a national and international context in full change, reflection on the future of Algeria is more than ever. It is in this perspective that we interviewed Soufiane Djilali, president of the party Jil Jadid (New generation), politician coupled with a committed intellectual, and author of the recent work Modernity: genesis and destiny of contemporary Western civilization (Editions Les Presses du Chélif, Jil Jadid). In this interview, he returns to the structural blockages of Algerian society, contemporary geopolitical issues, and sketches the contours of a social project based on the balance between individual autonomy and collective cohesion. In this dense and without detour interview, he returns to the major challenges that arise in Algeria: the difficulty of thinking about his future, the dead ends of a development without vision, the challenges of globalization and demondialization, but also the place of the country in a now multipolar world. Between critical lucidity and concrete proposals, Soufiane Djilali calls to rethink in depth the model of Algerian society and its international strategy. Rare speech, at the crossroads of thought and political action.
Algeria, in the heart of the world of tomorrow
In a world where geopolitical balances change, the#Algeria is at a decisive crossroads. Fatalism or voluntarism? Withdrawal or opening? To shed light on these crucial issues, we met Soufiane Djilali, president of… pic.twitter.com/k1jsjmwmcm– Oumma.com (@oumma) May 17, 2025
Interview report with Soufiane Djilali
A criticism of “fatalism of the unexpected future”
In his new work Modernity: genesis and destiny of contemporary Western civilizationSoufiane Djilali addresses the problem of the transition from traditional society to modernity. For him, Algeria suffers from “fatalism of the unexpected future”, that is to say an absence of real and structured reflection on the future of the country. He specifies, however, that it is not so much economic development that is neglected, but the very conception of a modern social project. Modernity, as a Western phenomenon, must be analyzed to learn from it suitable for the Algerian context.
Rethink modernity for Algeria
Soufiane Djilali believes that Western modernity is based on the autonomy of the individual, sometimes to the detriment of the community. Conversely, traditional society puts the individual at the service of the group. He therefore calls for the construction of a balanced model: a society where the individual is independent and responsible, but where this autonomy does not harm the collective interest. This vision involves reconciling intellectual, spiritual and material development with social cohesion.
Algeria in the face of globalization and demondialization
Soufiane Djilali regrets that Algeria has missed the historical opportunity represented by globalization of the years 1990-2000. Unlike other countries like China or Vietnam, Algeria has not opened up to foreign investments or industrial relocation. Today he evokes a new turning point: demondialization. According to him, the world is entering a multipolar era, marked by the return of economic sovereignties. Algeria, absent from the big blocks (BRICS, NATO, EU), must choose how to fit into this new world order.
What foreign policy for Algeria?
In an unstable geopolitical context, Soufiane Djilali pleads for a pragmatic and balanced foreign policy. He suggests that Algeria has multiple partnerships – with Russia for Defense, with China for infrastructure, but also with Europe, a natural partner because of geographic proximity. He insists on the need for Algeria to develop active diplomacy, focused on mutual interests, without hostility.
A warning against political instrumentalization
Asked about Franco-Algerian tensions, in particular the statements of the French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Soufiane Djilali deplores electoral instrumentalization of bilateral relations. He recalls the deep human ties between the two countries and warns against the social risks posed by a divisive rhetoric, in particular in a France marked by identity fractures.
Conclusion
Through this interview, Soufiane Djilali offers a nuanced and critical vision of the Algerian future. He calls for an intellectual refoundation of the national project, based on a lucid understanding of modernity and the place of Algeria in the world. Between international opening and internal cohesion, its message is that of a balance to be built.
