This thesis argues that the Islamic Salvation Front in Algeria should never have been legalized. Violent acts were committed by FIS followers, and several of its factions saw jihad or holy war as the only religiously legitimate way of instituting an Islamic state. Chapter 1 explores the context and consequences of the legalization of the FIS and argues that it was detrimental to the survival of democracy in Algeria. Chapter 2 analyzes interviews of three ex-FIS members who talk freely about the trajectory of the FIS. The salient themes that appeared during the interviews are: the reconstruction of recent Algerian history, members' moral view of politics, the disappointment and idealization that these members feel today towards the FIS, and narratives concerning the descent of Algeria into civil war. Chapter 3 analyzes interviews of three ex-government members, who held negative images of the FIS, although they insisted that the FIS should never be confused with Islam, to which they remained deeply attached. For them, the FIS was an obscurantist, populist and manipulative party that, while perhaps not directly responsible for the violence that almost engulfed Algeria, certainly precipitated it. Interviews are available in appendix (1).

Keywords: Algeria, Islamism, FIS, civil war, Interviews