The Political Integration of Maghrebi-origin Migrants in France and its Banlieues

1
The Political Integration of Maghrebi-origin
Migrants in France and its Banlieues

• Manlio Cinalli
• (CEVIPOF-CNRS, París)

Con la colaboración y financiación de
2
GENERAL ASPECTS

• The foreign-born population living in France has
  been very stable for 30 years.
•  
• 100,000 immigrants 100,000 naturalised
  (stability of the statistics related to the
  foreigner population) Family links constitute the
  major source of immigration (70)
• Work immigration represents 5 of the total.
• Refugees and asylum seekers represent 8 of the
  total.
• 65 of foreigners come from Africa, especially
  North-Africa.
• As regards the existing immigrant groups, 45 are
  European.

3
POLITICAL ISSUES

• Debates have focused on a number of issues
•  
• the conditions of entrance and stay of new
  immigrants in the French territory have been
  questioned.
• only high-qualified workers (or in economic
  sectors undergoing shortages) have been given an
  advantage, with the widespread debate on chosen
  immigration.
• the traditional French model of integration has
  been discussed, in particular with reference to
  the place of second and third generations.
• the balance between traditional laïcité and the
  laïcité positive the place for an Islam of
  State.

4
I INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

• ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY
• PERMITS
• Republican Integration
• Harder requirements in terms of residence
• Continous life-community between spouses / Longer
  marriages
• Yet, special conditions for Algerians and
  Tunisians
• ACCESS TO NATIONALITY
• Changes and counter-changes (left/right)
• The declaration of will

5

• 2. FAMILY REUNION
• Restricting twist with longer legal residence of
  sponsor (18 months)

6
3. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS

• WELFARE STATE
• Strong grounding of the principle of equal
  treatment in the field of social security and
  assistance (though exception of the minimum
  income)
• Existence of provisions also for illegal
  immigrants

7
4. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION RIGHTS

• End of 1990s following a HCI alarming report,
  the anti-discrimination framework becomes a
  priority ( EU role with the 1997 and 2000
  Directives).
• GED ?GELD?HALDE
• Reforms in 2001, 2002 and 2004
• Introduction of concepts such as physical
  appearance and name.
• Trade Unions acquire power to brings cases before
  courts in the field of housing, health,
  education, social security, etc.
• The practice of testing (2006)

8
II CULTURAL/GROUP RIGTHS

• CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS
• Republican Integration
• Assimilation as a condition for naturalisation
• 2006 Compulsory signing of CAI

9
2. SCHOOLING

• No public-funded Muslim school
• Group school are rare (1 Armenian school in
  Lyon)

10
3. RELIGION

• No systematic funding for Mosques ( grassroots
  reactions).
• Religion taught only in its historical
  dimension.
• Prohibition of religious signs in the public
  space

11
4. LABOUR MARKET GROUP RIGHTS

• VERY LIMITED EXPERIENCE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION,
  BASED ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CRITERIA (SYSTEMATIC
  LINK TO SOCIAL EXCLUSION) 

12
III POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURE(S)

• CONFIGURATION OF POWERS
• (CENTRALISATION)
• PARTICIPATION MECHANISMS
• (LIMITED PARTICIPATION THOUGH ROLE OF CITIZENS
  COMMITTEE) 
• SPECIFIC FIELD PROVISIONS
• UNDERDEVELOPED SYSTEM OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
• POLITIQUE DE LA VILLE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC
  FRAMING
• 2005 CONSEIL DES RESIDENTS ETRANGERS LIONNAYS

13
Some interesting results

• Religious and homeland identities are not
  incompatible with French and local identities for
  Maghrebi-origin respondents in Lyon.
• Local identities are not a substitute for French
  national identities.

14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)