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The Clash of Cultures in France: An Examination of French Secular Policy and
North African Immigrant Unrest
Introduction
The Puzzle: secular policy was formed by the French government in order to create
convergence among peoples of differing religious and cultural backgrounds and
result in social stability in France. Yet, there have been increasing incidents of social
unrest between the North African immigrant and native French populations, and
there have even been terrorist acts perpetrated by French citizens with an immigrant
background.
The Question: Why is there an increase in immigrant unrest and a clash between
immigrants and natives in France, when French policy has been formulated to
assimilate all cultures and create convergence among them?
Why this question or puzzle is important:
- With mass immigration of Syrian refugees, any European countries are in danger
of experiencing a similar clash of cultures to what is transpiring in France and
such unrest leads to social instability with all its consequences
- By the logic of this paper’s argument, a clash of cultures is avoidable. It may be
avoided with strategic decision-making.
Definition of Key Terms
- Laïcité
- Failure of French Policy
- Constructed clash of cultures
- The Values of French Nationalism
History of North African Immigrants in France
- North African immigration to France began after World War II as a result of
temporary-worker programs
- Immigration continues with “Family Reunion” policies
- The suburbs or “banlieue” today: home to an isolated, impoverished,
unemployed, and frustrated immigrant population
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMM-3uU8TSA&annotation_id=annotation_506280&feature=iv&src_vid=AVQkOW5PXPI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVQkOW5PXPI
First Indicator of a Clash of Cultures: Rioting
Second Instance of a Clash of Cultures: the Hijab Ban.
- 2005 hijab (headscarf) ban and
2011 niqab (full-face covering) ban
- Officially in the name of Laïcité
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsZgpNqkmyc
http://bigthink.com/videos/should-france-ban-headscarves-in-schools
Third Instance of a Clash of Cultures: the Rise of Homegrown Terrorism.
The Charlie Hebdo attacks of
January 2015
+
the November 13, 2015 ISIS
attacks.
Alternative Approaches
Does Not Apply:
- Huntington’s Primordial Approach
More Appropriate:
- Constructivist
- Brubaker’s groupness
- Social-Psychological
- Druckman
Holes/Inconsistencies
Why are North African immigrants in France excluded and treated like an
outgroup when this treatment is reserved for inherently bad cooperators,
according to Kurzban and Leary?
Why are North African immigrants are members of the nation but still
treated as an outgroup by the state and the nation?
My Approach
The system (of nationalist values) in France is set up to exclude North
African immigrants from cooperation.
- includes the notion that in order to truly be french one must adopt
french values, french names, and the french “way of life.”
My Argument
My main argument in this paper is that the clash of cultures between
immigrant and native french populations does not result naturally (from
ancient rivalries as primordialists might argue); instead, it emerges from
confounding socio-economic and political conditions. The clash of cultures
between North African Muslim immigrants and the native population in
France is constructed by failed policy and the immigrant reactions to the
manifestations of failures of the french state (poverty, legal discrimination,
racism, etc.).