The immigration issue and integration policy in France - Integration policy of Mitterrand government from 1981
by U4 Fumio Yanauchi
December 5th 2007
1.Immigration issue in France
At first, France adopted immigrants as workers from foreign countries because of labor shortage. But, since 1974, when the "oil shock" happend, economy was depressed and France stopped adopting new immigrants. From then, Immigrants began to settle down in France and there was need for integration.
2.History of Integration
Throughout its history of Immigration, France adopted some attitudes or positions which incoporated immigrants into France society.
(1)Assimilation
Assimilation basically means incorporation to the cultural domain.In french case, it means incorporating people into France which has French culture and Christianity. This attitude was adopted to immigrants from European countries before 1970s.
(2)Insertion
Insertion means incorporation into France with immigrants keeping there own attributes, such as their culture and ethnic identity.In france, it was also known as 'right to difference'and it was adopted in 1970s.
(3)Integration
In France, Integration means incorporating people into France as individual citizen, not as group. This characteristic is called 'Universalism'. And there is another characteristic called 'Laicite'. It means that attributes, such as culture, religion and so on, stay in private sphere.
This attitude has been adopted since the late 1980's.
3.Integration policy of Mitterrand government from 1981
With the attitude of 'integration', France adopted some Integration policy.
For example, they created the fund called Social Action Fund(FAS). This fund is for occupational training, housing and social work of immigrants. And also, France government unified residence paper with work pemit visa.
In total, integration policy helps immigrants by themselves to accomplish integration.
4.Conclusion
France government changed their attitudes several times and the attitude was different in each time. The recent attitude 'integration' aimed at helping people to incoporate into French society by themselves.
The Summary of the Question and Answer of Yanauchi's Presentation
by U3 Yuki KUROKAWA(05/12/2007)
Q：How about the settlement? You didn’t mention it.
A：I showed in the table 3 and 4.
Q：So in these tables, what is the number of the second generation? So can’t you define the number of the foreign connection? And was the second generation simply French citizen?
A：I couldn’t question about the origin. There is no way of knowing the number, especially in France.
Q：It is the quite hot topic in Europe. Did you consider the effect for over the third generation?
A：Yes. The second generations and the third generations are in the different situation.
Q：Is it legally possible for immigration to get the citizenship?
A：Yes. But, it’s the matter of the identity. it’s difficult to mention the identity or the characteristic of it.
Q：Who was the target of the policy?
A：The second generations, in other words, young people were.
Q：Did French think that the integration policy was important? Wasn’t it used as the PR to other countries?
A：Indeed, it might be the kind of the campaign.
Q：Were the immigrants satisfied with this policy?
A：Many of the Mitterrand’s policy was for immigrants. And the result of an election reflected the success of the policy.
Q：How do French people get the French nationality?
A：If they are willing to be French, they all can get the position of French.
Q：Is the policy continuing now?
A：Some parts are continuing. But other parts like housing problem are abolished by Chirac.
Q：How changed the calling from assimilation to insertion?
A：It was the matter of the object of the integration policy. The former was targeted for European people. But non-European increased. They felt that they couldn’t integrate French. Then the change of insertion occurred.
Q：You used two words, assimilation and insertion, when you mentioned the history of immigration policy. How different two terms are?
A：The word of Assimilation was used by the government, and Insertion was rather a kind the campaign than used by government . There are some types of insertion. The policy was intended for not only immigrants but some minorities.
Q：This integration policy is rather for national integration than for immigration integration?
A：It’s true to some extent. But actually, this policy applied most to immigrants.
Q：What is the most different point of France from other union country in the policy?
A：It doesn’t have the affirmative action because of the universal principle.
Q：Why Mitterrand open-minded this policy in 1980s? This decade was relatively conservative.
A：Immigration issues began to occur from 1974. And when Mitterrand addressed for the election in 1981, he promised to adopt the immigration policy if he became the president.
(1)
I think he made a very intelligible presantation. His English was easy to understand. Considering that he did not have time, the content was well arranged.
by Syou Satou (3rd grade)
(2)You said that you didn’t introduce specific issues of immigrants and integration. But for me, to express general idea was understandable. And I found that problems of immigrants are very difficult. Those problems exist in many countries, and I think leaders of those countries are at a loss about resolving those problems. So ultimately, I hope you can insist your original proposal to solve or moderate those difficulties.
by Yasuhiro Fujimura (3rd grade)
(3)
I don't know how to get the Nationality of French . So I don't know who is the French .
Such system is differet from that of Japan .
Integration is very difficult theme , because various problems are involved in . Such as ecomomy , politics , history , culture , and so on .
Moreover definition of French is relative and ambiguity .
by Junnosuke Shibu (4th grade)
(4)
Thank you for your presentation. Your English was very understandable for me. And I could understand by your presentation what the policy for immigrants in France is like. It is sure that your presentation was like an outline, but it was very easy for me to understand because I'm not so familiar with the policy for immigrants in France. So it was very good for me. Anyway thank you for your presentation.
by Kie Chiyada (3rd grade)
(5)
He made a very clear presentation. I felt the definition of each word about the integration is very difficult. I think that it demands both of viewpoints of immigrants and government.
Although some areas in the world are promoted integration, do problems like French integration exist other areas? I'm not familiar to this situations, so I'd like to know.
by Yuuki Kurokawa (3rd grade)