Socialism and rural development in post-independence Algeria: The case of the 1000 socialist villages’ policy in the 1970s

Abstract The theme of socialist villages, which was at the centre of debates in rural Algeria in the 1970s, has now been completely overlooked, replaced by metropolitan concerns. This article examines a one-of-a-kind experience, including its origins as well as its physical and social implications. Fifty years later, we look at what happened to these key components of the agricultural revolution and what lessons may be learned from their progress. In this case study, we will examine the formation and development of the socialist village in Bejaïa ‘May 8, 1945’. We will also conduct a field survey to report on its evolution. Our aim is to investigate how a country’s political framework influences architectural production and its impact on rural living models. The findings highlight the inseparability of building and occupancy, indicating that individuals aspire to much more than just a home; they want to modify their surroundings to make it their own living environment. Furthermore, this research will allow us to extract useful concepts for the architecture of rural places in Algeria.