7 research outputs found
Biribi: disciplining and punishing in the French empire
This article discusses the infamous Bataillons dâAfrique to which French former criminals were sent to complete their duty of military service. The âBat dâAfâ were created to prevent the young male bourgeoisie from having to mix with these âundesirablesâ and âreprobatesâ, and they were stationed well away from the mainland in Franceâs North African colonies. This article discusses themes such as discipline, punishment, torture, homosexuality, interracial power relations, and delinquent âculturesâ in this imperial context