Basic Information - Migration in France
General Information
In the late 19th Century, immigrants mostly came from Italy and Belgium. Since the 1960s, after Africa gained independence, many immigrants, mainly Muslim, came from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. As compared to other European Union (EU) countries, France has the most Muslims. During the 1970 Economic Crisis, there was restrictive immigration that only allowed family reunification (Nations Encyclopedia, n.d.). As a result, the number of immigrants dropped from 255,195 in 1970 to 56,695 in 1979 (Togman, 2002). After the 1970s, most immigrants in France originated from West Africa and Asia. In 2008, immigrants make up 8% of France’s population of 66 million. From 2009-2012, about 200,000 immigrants enter France annually (Andrei, 2015). |
Why migrate to France?
In France, there are more legal immigrants than illegal ones. In 2008, legal immigrants make up 19% of the French population (INSEE, 2010), whereas as of 2010, illegal immigrants take up only 9% of the country’s population (ProCon, 2013). There are different reasons why these two types of immigrants migrate to France: |
Why does France want immigrants?
Since World War II, France needed labour to reconstruct both physical and economical aspects of France. Also, during the 1970 Economic Crisis, France also needed more workers to restore economy that declined. Starting 2010, France experiences the problem of an aging population because the post-war “baby boom” generation began to retire (Brandon, 2014), meaning that France needs more skilled workers and labour to sustain the work force. |
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How has Migration affected France?
Immigration has the potential to boost French economy. 13% of foreign workers account for 6% of GDP in France (Anonymous, n.d.), and young skilled immigrants work and pay taxes, contributing to 11.9 billion euros per year (Anonymous, n.d.). However, there are negative impacts on public finances because foreign workers are not welcomed by the employers as compared to their local counterparts. “A Muslim candidate is 2.5 times less likely to receive a job interview call back than is her matched Christian counterpart” (Adida et al., 2010). Immigrants account for 16% of unemployed persons even though they are only 9% of the working populations (Anonymous, n.d.). This shows the discrimination against immigrants. This increasing unemployment also leads to poverty. 14% of French population are living in poverty. (Melvin, 2014), and cities with many immigrants has higher rates of poverty. In fact, the majority of the people who suffer in poverty are the immigrants and the elderly (RFI, 2014). Also, immigration leads to racial tension due to cultural differences. When immigrants and locals, led by idealists, fight for their cultural identities, violent conflicts occur. For example, there was a bombing in Paris in November 2015. Another example would be the Charlie Hebdo shooting in the same year. These 2 incidents are both led by Islamic extremists. |
Assimilation in France
To include the immigrants and gel with them in the French society, France practised the assimilation policy predominantly. It is a policy where immigrants must adopt the French language and culture in order to act like a French. In the 20th Century, this expanded the French culture to colonies outside of France and affirmed the French superiority. Currently, it is not forced, but being more like a French extends an immigrant’s residence status more easily (Zappi, 2003).
Integration in France
From the mid-1980s to around 2000, France abandoned the assimilation policy and practise the integration policy. This policy emphasizes equality across race, ethnicity and religions. Hence, the distinctive characteristics of the immigrants’ different cultural backgrounds are preserved and it increases the racial diversity in France. This is also meant to reduce the discrimination and racism between the immigrants and the locals at that time. However, due to the right-wing political leaders being strongly against this policy as they claimed that immigrants were crime-offenders, this policy was abandoned (Chrisafis, 2012). This led to the revival of the assimilation policy as mentioned above.
To include the immigrants and gel with them in the French society, France practised the assimilation policy predominantly. It is a policy where immigrants must adopt the French language and culture in order to act like a French. In the 20th Century, this expanded the French culture to colonies outside of France and affirmed the French superiority. Currently, it is not forced, but being more like a French extends an immigrant’s residence status more easily (Zappi, 2003).
Integration in France
From the mid-1980s to around 2000, France abandoned the assimilation policy and practise the integration policy. This policy emphasizes equality across race, ethnicity and religions. Hence, the distinctive characteristics of the immigrants’ different cultural backgrounds are preserved and it increases the racial diversity in France. This is also meant to reduce the discrimination and racism between the immigrants and the locals at that time. However, due to the right-wing political leaders being strongly against this policy as they claimed that immigrants were crime-offenders, this policy was abandoned (Chrisafis, 2012). This led to the revival of the assimilation policy as mentioned above.
Curbing the Number of Immigrants
As mentioned, France was not very accepting towards immigrants. Be it legal or illegal immigrants, 70% of the French citizens thought there were “too many immigrants” in the country (Buchanan, 2015). Therefore, there are attempts to try and curb the number of immigrants entering the country.
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Rights of Immigrants
- One aged 18 or above can apply for French citizenship after 5 years’ habitual residence (Vink, 2010).
- However, this residence period requirement is waived for past French militants or refugees. (Service-public.fr, n.d.)
- Immigrants are also entitled to multi-year residence permits (Anonymous, 2015).
- In elections, immigrants from other EU countries have the rights to vote (Crumley, 2011).