Beyond Assimilation: Shifting Boundaries of Belonging in France
Abstract
The history of France’s immigration policy goes back to the late
eighteenth century, when industrialisation began in the context of early
demographic decline. Since then, it has hesitated between a policy of
settlement and a policy of recruiting labourers. The shortage of workers
and future soldiers in the second part of the nineteenth century led to
the call for foreign workers. The intention was ‘to make French from
foreigners’ in spite of public debates, which were focussed on the risks
of immigration for French identity...