ظاهرة المهدي المنتظر في المقاومة الجزائرية خلال القرن التاسع عشر و مطلع القرن العشرين

The essence of mahdism remains the wait for a radical work change which will be reflected in a “just society” rid of all imperfections mahdism presents main characteristics : firstly a total refusal of the present world and a search for a better world, secondly a stereotype “ideology” which is based on the idea that the actual world will end one day. This is a notion reserved to the monotheistic religions Judaism Christianity and Islam. Thirdly mahdism is not a maker of revolutions, it waits until it happens by miracle. The people’s role is to follow the prophets who predict the coming of the great day.In the 19 th C, mahidistic movements were initiated by the marabouts. They concern regions of agricultural structure in violent conflict with colonial capitalism (violent penetration dispossession and distructuration) and reaching social layers impoverished by colonial exploitation (small owners, craftsmen and share croppers).The Algerian historiography – of positive essence – conceals the symbolic and anthropological dimensions of mahidism, whose historical function is to preserve the hope of an imminent delivery and of reviving national pride among populations suffering from the colonial yoke.