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Biribi: disciplining and punishing in the French empire

  • Nicola Cooper

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article discusses the infamous Bataillons d’Afrique to which French former criminals were sent to complete their duty of military service. The ‘Bat d’Af’ were created to prevent the young male bourgeoisie from having to mix with these ‘undesirables’ and ‘reprobates’, and they were stationed well away from the mainland in France’s North African colonies. This article discusses themes such as discipline, punishment, torture, homosexuality, interracial power relations, and delinquent ‘cultures’ in this imperial context.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4
Pages (from-to)321-329
Number of pages9
JournalFrench Cultural Studies
Volume29
Issue number4
Early online date28 Oct 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2018

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

  • Biribi
  • Bataillons d’Afrique
  • disciplinary military battalions
  • French empire
  • military prisons

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