Deconstructing the Nation: Immigration, Racism and Citizenship in Modern France (Critical Studies in Racism and Migration)

Deconstructing the Nation examines the connection between racism and the development of the nation-state in modern France. The author raises important questions about the nature of citizenship rights in modern French society and contributes to wider European debates on citizenship. By challenging the myths of the modern French nation Maxim Silverman opens up the debate on questions of immigration, racism, the nation and citizenship in France to non-French speaking readers. Until quite recently these matters have largely been ignored by researchers in Britain and the USA. However, European integration has made it essential to look beyond national frontiers. The major part of his analysis concerns the period from the end of the 1960s to the beginning of the 1990s. Yet contemporary developments are placed in a historical context: first through a consideration of the construction of the modern question of immigration since the second half of the nineteenth century, and second through a survey of political, economic and social developments since 1945. There are analyses of the major debates on nationality in 1987 and the headscarf' affair of 1989. Finally questions of immigration, racism and citizenship are considered within the framework of European integration. Deconstructing the Nation analyses 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 on nationality including the "headscarf" affair of 1989.

Silverman is a leading expert on issues of immigration, racism and the nation of France. Deconstructing the Nation is of interest to students and scholars of cultural studies and discourse analysis. Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction 12 Immigration and the nation-state 21 Post-war immigration in France 48 The 'problem' of immigration 81 Assimilation and difference 106 Nationality and citizenship 137 France and the 'New Europe' 164 Notes 182 Bibliography 197 Index 209 Race & Ethnicity Maxim Silverman analyzes the connection between racism and the development of the nation-state in modern France. He raises important questions about the nature of French society and contributes to the European debate on citizenship