Postcolonial Minorities in Britain and France : In the Hyphen of the Nation-state

The book analyses why religious and racial minorities in Britain and France are unable to integrate into the nation-state. By examining their religious and cultural integration as well as their postcolonial status, I make the argument that historical attitudes towards postcolonial minorities make it very hard for them to be integrated into national life even as they become legal citizens. La 4e de couverture indique : "Why is it that certain minorities in Europe are seen as a threat to social cohesion? Most literature views the issues raised by minorities through either the lens of immigration or the assimilation paradigm. In Postcolonial minorities in Britain and France, Shailja Sharma offers an alternative, redefining the discourse of 'us-versus-them' by locating its origins in this schism between nation and state. Modern migrants find themselves caught between these two entities - their presence and status is regulated by the state but their level of assimilation and their place in society is influenced by the nation. Though the nation is not a structured entity like the state, it is rooted in a set of discourses - historical, political and cultural - that are normative and identifiable. These national discourses, Sharma argues, are ultimately more important than state action in determining whether minorities are integrated into and eventually assimilated into the nation. Postcolonial minorities in Britain and France combines comparative and interdisciplinary approaches to discourses to consider questions of national identity, values, the place of religion, secularism and public spaces. It will be of tremendous interest to students and scholars of race, religion and migration studies." 'Why is it that certain minorities in Europe are seen as a threat to social cohesion?Most literature views the issues raised by minorities through either the lens of immigration or the assimilation paradigm. In 'Postcolonial minorities in Britain and France', Shailja Sharma offers an alternative, redefining the discourse of 'us-versus-them' by locating its origins in this schism between nation and state. Modern migrants find themselves caught between these two entities - their presence and status is regulated by the state but their level of assimilation and their place in society is influenced by the nation. Though the nation is not a structured entity like the state, it is rooted in a set of discourses - historical, political and cultural - that are normative and identifiable. These national discourses, Sharma argues, are ultimately more important than state action in determining whether minorities are integrated into and eventually assimilated into the nation. 'Postcolonial minorities in Britain and France' combines comparative and interdisciplinary approaches to discourses to consider questions of national identity, values, the place of religion, secularism and public spaces. It will be of tremendous interest to students and scholars of race, religion and migration studies' --Back cover This Book Compares The Postcolonial Populations Of Britain And France, Examining The Ways In Which They Are Redefining Citizenship. Bearing In Mind The Different Histories And Political Systems Of Each Country, It Considers Questions Of National Identity, Values, The Place Of Religion, Secularism And Public Spaces - All Integral To Determining What Makes A Country A True Nation. Recent Security Threats Have Made The Debate Around Minorities And Assimilation All The More Pressing, And This Book Delves Deep Into The Issues Of Feminism, Islam And Group Identities. It Will Be Of Interest To Students And Scholars Of Race, Religion And Migration Studies. Shailja Sharma. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book compares the postcolonial populations of Britain and France, examining the ways in which they are redefining citizenship. Bearing in mind the different histories and political systems of each country, it considers questions of national identity, values, the place of religion, secularism and public spaces - all integral to determining what makes a country a true nation. Recent security threats have made the debate around minorities and assimilation all the more pressing, and this book delves deep into the issues of feminism, Islam and group identities. It will be of interest to students and scholars of race, religion and migration studies. This book examines how Britain and France, with their different political histories, are handling the new religious and racial diversity that has become a fact of life in both countries, and demonstrates how postcolonial minorities are caught between the nation and the state in relation to status and identity, acceptance and integration This is an examination of how Britain and France are handling the new religious and racial diversity that has become a fact of life in both countries, and how postcolonial minorities are caught between the nation and the state in relation to status and identity, acceptance and integration