Multiculturalism in France Caroline West Caroline.West@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

What is Multiculturalism? 2010- 2011 Merkel: Multiculturalism has « utterly failed » 30% Germans feel « overrun by foreigners »

What is Multiculturalism? Cameron (Feb 2011) Multicultural policies « a failure » Foster extremist ideology + terrorism Threat to women’s rights, integration, language, culture

What is Multiculturalism? Nicolas Sarkozy: Multiculturalism has failed – fosters extremism Important to respect cultural differences

What is Multiculturalism? France should have national community, not just co-existence of cultures « Islam de France, non pas Islam en France »

sarkozy multiculturalism

What is Multiculturalism? Pluralism: a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests Merriam Webster

What is Multiculturalism? Pluralism : the belief that people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., should live together in a society Merriam Webster

What is Multiculturalism? La diversité: Ensemble des personnes qui diffèrent les unes des autres par leur origine géographique, socio-culturelle ou religieuse, leur âge, leur sexe, leur orientation sexuelle etc et qui constituent la communauté nationale à laquelle elles appartiennent Larousse

What is Multiculturalism? Cultural Diversity Ideologies and policies Institutional recognition of separate or distinct identities

What is Multiculturalism? Charles Taylor: Universalism – equal dignity Equal rights for all citizens

What is Multiculturalism? Politics of equal dignity - freedom - absence of differenciated roles (equality) - tight common purpose (fraternity)

What is Multiculturalism? Politics of difference - unique identity - distinctness

What is Multiculturalism? Integration = each element has equal value Assimilation = deny difference by absorbing foreign contributions

What is Multiculturalism? French History Comparison with other countries

Course Outline 1- Definitions of Multiculturalism Republicanism/Nation/Napoleon 2 – France’s Colonial History 3 - History of Immigration in France Example of Grenoble

Course Outline 4 – Integration: historical perspectives 5 – Facts and Figures: Population and Integration 6 – Comparison of European Policies 7 – Education and Integration

Course Outline 8 – Multiculturalism and Secularism 9 – City Planning and Integration

Course Requirements Read recommended articles (Chamilo) Take part in class activities/discussions

Course assessment Term Paper :   A comparative study of multicultural policies in France, __________ and ____________ . 12, 000 characters in length (about 6 000 words) Double spaced text Final submission date: 14th May 2018 To be submitted via Chamilo platform.

Lesson One Historical Approach France: a Nation-State French Republic: ideals, human rights Influence on notion of multiculturalism Historical origins: France’s colonial history

Astérix

France as a Nation Nation State: sovereign entity State = political and geographical entity Nation = cultural and/or ethnic entity Nation-State = two coincide geographically

France as a Nation Nation State recent concept Did not exist pre-1500s Feudal system Variety of laws and practices

France as a Nation Consolidation of power by monarchs Nationalism to encourage loyalty Clearly established during 19th century

France as a Nation Centralization Central Government = uniform law and practices Trade National armies

France as a Nation 987 Hugh Capet king of West Francia = France Louis XIV peak of French royal power Followed by collapse of royal power 1789 French Revolution Transferred sovereignty from monarch to people

France as a Nation Nation → State State → Embodiment of nation

Jacobinism Indivisible national sovereignty Role of the state as transformer of society Administrative centralization Equality of citizens through equal rights Uniform education to ensure uniform political concept of citizen

France as a Nation Powerful state + indivisible sovereign and public authority = prevents nation fragmenting into particular interests Active citizen → is the nation State = guarantor of national political identity

France as a Nation Contractual society between state and nation Not privileges Individual no longer at mercy of destiny Choice of national citizenry not ethnic, cultural or biological

French Republicanism Democracy ≠ monarchy Laïcité ≠ clericalism Republicanism = social contract Rousseau : general will

France as a Nation Specific rights to ethnic/religious groups ≠ ideals of 1789 Revolution Immigrant chooses to become citizen Equal to native French National sentiments not judged by ethnic/religious criteria Mistrust of « right to difference »

Napoleon Bonaparte Chaos of French Revolution National Law Code established National military created France as nation-state able to dominate feudal neighbours Other peoples rallied as nation to defeat Napoleon

French Republic « La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale » Republic is indivisible, secular, democratic, social

French Republic One and indivisible = equal citizens, not separate communities Social = Equality Democratic = liberty Secular = fraternity

French Republic Nation = assembly of citizens united by common history, language, culture Nation controls decisions to be made for common good

French Republic Public service provides same acess to knowledge, security, mobility. Education, police, transport all public services