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Immigration not just sensitive political issue opportunity to examine social ties, national integration and citizenship
Foreigner? Immigrant?

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From early history, waves of settlers: Celts, Romans,
Germanic tribes, Vikings,
FRANCE country of political asylum: movement of populations following European wars…
Economic need for workers after WWII who escape misery in Italy and Poland, Russia...

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Europe
(socio-economic and political refugees from Italy, Spain, Russia, Greece political, Eastern European countries
Poland, Roumania, former Yougoslavia)
Former colonies:
North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa and former Indochina
(Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia…)
Chile
Asia

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Usually ADULT MALE single workers
 family reunion: arrival of families and issues of integration

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-German or “ethnic” model: nationality linked to descent (right of blood line)
French or “political” model: derived from republican principles.
Aim is to assimilate/integrate
Nationality=citizenship=right of soil
British/US model: recognition of minorities with issues of ghettoisation/ segregation

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Constitutionally (republican principles) France does not discriminate either negatively or positively on account of race/nationality
FAS (social action fund for immigrant workers and families)
--1958

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Marriage to a French national
(for 1 year)
 granting of nationality to people who have reached their majority (18 years) and have lived in France for at least five years
 acquisition by Right of soil in the case of 18-year-old children of foreigners born in France, and resident there for at least five years between the ages of 11 and 18
(under Article44).

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Socio-economic= schooling housing/unemployment (lack of education and qualifications, language issues, few financial resources, social problems..)
Concentration in large urban centers, HLM suburban housing
( Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseilles,
Toulouse...)
Also: mutual cultural perceptions.

Xenophobia is often linked to periods of economic depression
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Discrimination for jobs
Racism linked to colonial past and Islam (fuelled by customs clashing with secular & gender equality principles of French civilization).
=sensitive arguments used for political ends (the National
Front/Le Pen)

Prospects for the integration of immigrants in France
Integration paths of European and non-European immigrants are diverging
•Integration of E. U citizens is of a different nature
• Fighting exclusion and marginalization of non-E.U citizens

Integration =EU member states matter
Treaties:
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SCHENGEN AGREEMENTS
(1985-1990)
AMSTERDAM TREATY(1997)
-measures for regulating entry and residence, short and long term.
--illegal immigration and residence ->Big problem today!