PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — M. A. Averyanov, A. B. Gekht. THE CRISIS OF THE FRENCH COLONIAL SYSTEM: THE EMERGENCE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE OAS
This article examines the phenomenon of the Secret Armed Organisation (OAS), a farright terrorist group that emerged in the early 1960s amidst the collapse of the French colonial empire and Algeria’s struggle for independence. The paper explores the historical circumstances leading up to the organisation’s creation and the underlying motivations of those who joined its ranks. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the OAS’ historical development, delineating its fundamental objectives and the violent means employed to realise them. Moreover, the study examines the societal response to the movement and the underlying factors that led to its eventual failure. It also acknowledges the substantial historical legacy bequeathed to both France and Algeria by the movement, in addition to its influence on popular culture. Acknowledging the dearth of scholarly attention this topic has received in Russian historiography, the research aims to fill this academic gap, emphasising the modern relevance of understanding the French Fifth Republic’s political experience with colonial wars.