Italian Migration and Settlement in the Province of Constantine during the Colonial Period (1861–1911): Demographic Transformations and Economic Functions in the Context of French Colonial Policy

Abstract

This article examines Italian migration and settlement in the province of Constantine during the colonial period between 1861 and 1911, in the broader context of French colonial policy and the demographic and economic transformations experienced by Algeria. It seeks to analyze the place of Italian migration within the wider movement of non‑French European migration, and to clarify its functional role in supporting the colonial project, particularly in a province characterized by a relatively weak French presence in terms of settlement.
The article is based on a critical analysis of statistical data issued by both the French colonial administration and the Italian authorities, comparing them in order to uncover the dynamics of migration and settlement and to explain the reasons for discrepancies in the figures. It also discusses the economic and social factors that drove Italians—especially those from southern Italy and the Po Valley—to migrate to Algeria in the context of economic crises, unequal land distribution, and political upheavals.
The findings show that the province of Constantine formed a major pole of Italian settlement. Italians were concentrated primarily in coastal towns and in areas connected to ports and mines, where they worked in key economic sectors such as fishing, mining, public works, and construction. The article concludes that Italian settlement was not merely a demographic phenomenon, but rather a structural element that contributed to reshaping the province’s demographic and economic fabric within the framework of French colonial policy.