Deconstructing the Nation: Immigration, Racism and Citizenship in Modern France

by Silverman,Maxim

• ISBN13: 9780415044837
• ISBN10: 0415044839
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1992-09-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Deconstructing the Nationanalyses the connection between racism and the development of the nation-state in modern France. Maxim Silverman looks at the the nature of citizenship rights in modern French society, contributing to wider European debates on citizenship. By challenging the myths of the modern French nation, this book opens up the debate on questions of immigration, racism, the nation and citizenship in France to non-French speaking readers. Until quite recently, these questions have largely been ignored by researchers in Britain and the USA. However, European integration has made looking beyond the national frontier essential. Silverman's analyzes the period from the end of the 1960's to the present, placing contemporary developments in historical context. He examines the construction of immigration since the second half of the nineteenth century, and surveys the political, economic and social developments since 1945. Silverman considers the major debates onnationality including the "headscarf" affair of 1989. Silverman is a leading expert on issues of immigration, racism and the nation of France.Deconstructing the Nationis of interest to students and scholars of cultural studies and discourse analysis.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	1	(9)
Immigration and the nation-state	10	(27)
The question of immigration	10	(9)
The two models of the nation	19	(8)
The 'nationalisation' of France	27	(6)
The nation-state today: problems of interpretation	33	(4)
Post-war immigration in France	37	(33)
1945--55: the state, demography and the economy	38	(4)
1955--68: the boom years	42	(4)
1968--74: a 'new' immigration policy	46	(6)
1974--81: integration or repatriation	52	(5)
1981--91: the politics of immigration under Mitterrand	57	(13)
The 'problem' of immigration	70	(25)
Problems and solutions	70	(8)
State determinations and determinations of the state	78	(4)
Integration and control	82	(7)
Racialisation and the nation	89	(6)
Assimilation and difference	95	(31)
The 'seuil de tolerance' and the ghetto	95	(11)
Proximity/distance: colonialism/post-colonialism	106	(5)
Headscarves and the Enlightenment	111	(7)
Racism/anti-racism	118	(8)
Nationality and citizenship	126	(27)
Rights and the nation-state	128	(5)
The law, transgression and crisis: 'les clandestins'	133	(7)
The nationality debate	140	(7)
Rights at the crossroads	147	(6)
France and the 'New Europe'	153	(18)
Refugees, immigration and controls	154	(7)
Which model for rights?	161	(5)
Alterity and citizenship in Europe	166	(5)
Notes	171	(15)
Bibliography	186	(12)
Index	198