This published article explores the deep-seated historical, political, and conceptual entanglements between Europe and North Africa by highlighting how European imperial expansion—beginning with the conquest of Algiers in 1830 and culminating in the establishment of the Moroccan Protectorate in 1911—transformed the Maghreb into a colonial periphery subsequently incorporated into a Europe-dominated capitalist system. These interventions dismantled Ottoman influence, restructured religious hierarchies, and introduced settler colonialism, resulting in material dispossession, cultural transformation, and enduring legacies that continue to shape postcolonial North African states. Consequently, nation-state models in the region remain profoundly influenced by colonial structures. This deep historical imprint on modern North Africa raises critical questions about the extent to which these states have truly undergone decolonization.

Using the city of Marseille as a case study, the discussion further examines how colonial expansion reshaped Europe itself. Marseille evolved from a regional port into a central hub of empire, experiencing economic modernization, demographic transformation, and shifting identities—from the “Gateway to the Orient” to a contested site associated with globalization and crime. These dynamics demonstrate how imperial networks reconfigured urban, social, and political structures on both shores of the Mediterranean.
At a conceptual level, the dialogue traces the imperial origins of Mediterranean studies, showing how notions of Mediterranean unity were shaped by European archaeology, colonial ideology, and competing nationalist projects. While the Mediterranean framework can serve as a valuable analytical tool for understanding historical and contemporary entanglements, it must be applied critically to avoid reproducing Eurocentric or imperial narratives.

Finally, the conversation emphasizes a nuanced historiography, arguing that neither colonialism nor postcolonial nationalism should be treated as monolithic. It underscores the importance of fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, linguistic inclusivity, and comparative maritime perspectives in order to situate the Mediterranean within broader global contexts.