How did Islamic fundamentalism grow in Algeria after the 1970s?

Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria gained significant momentum after the late 1970s, driven by a combination of geopolitical influences and internal socio-economic crises. The 1979 revolution in Iran and the war in Afghanistan served as catalysts for increased militant mobilization and Islamic activism within the country.1

Domestically, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism was fueled by widespread public resentment toward the ruling regime. As the state-controlled socialist system faltered, the government struggled with:12

• Economic Decline: A sharp drop in petroleum prices in the mid-1980s crippled the industrialization program, leading to high unemployment, severe housing shortages, and difficulty providing basic food supplies.1
• Political Discontent: Growing awareness of government corruption and the incompetence of the regime eroded public trust.1
• Social Pressures: High population growth increased the demand for social services that the state could no longer fulfill.1

In response to these failures, fundamentalist imams gained significant influence in major mosques. This discontent culminated in the 1988 riots, which prompted the government to liberalize the political system. The subsequent formation of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) provided a formal political vehicle for this movement, allowing it to capitalize on the population's frustration and achieve major electoral successes in 1990 and 1991.231