Frances Approach to Assimilation with Regard to Algerian Immigration - Case Study Example

Comment on France’s Approach of assimilation with regard to Algerian Immigration Introduction The topic of the French approach to assimilation with reference to Algerian immigrants should be seen in the context of the role of Algerian minorities in the evolutionary structure of France. The troubled history of Algeria is one of subjugation of the rights and privileges of the Algerian people. In the year 1834, France annexed Algeria and made it one of its colonies. At that time Algeria had a population of around 3 Million Muslims. Under the French rule, there was development of agricultural, mining, manufacturing and the main crux of the industry centered on small industries and a highly developed export trade. The land holdings of the Algerian people were annexed by the French and they were reduced to serfdom. The great traditional leaders of Algeria were either imprisoned or killed. During this regime, the Muslims of Algeria were highly discriminated against. They were not encouraged to practice their religious beliefs. They had to pay higher taxes than the Europeans and even their education was discouraged. The Muslim population of Algeria depended on Muslim religious schools for reading and writing and for religious studies of the holy Quran. The French rulers refused to build mosques or religious schools for the locals but spend a great deal of funds on the educational needs of the European subjects. Thus, it is seen that the French rulers did not respect the sentiments of the Algerians during their rule in Algeria and treated them as virtual slaves while giving priority to the needs of the European community. Due to the economic depravation and poverty, it became necessary for Algerians to immigrate in large numbers to France after the Independence of Algeria in 1962. Historical Background: During the World War I, a lot of French able bodied men were called for war efforts, and therefore there was a serious shortage of labour in the country. Therefore, France had to draw from Algeria for the human resources needs of its country. Therefore a lot of Algerians were sent to France to work in farming establishments. Further during the industrial boom of the 1920, there was a great demand for unskilled labour, which was provided by the Algerians. During the Second World War, nearly 100,00 Muslim Algerians fought for France and died during the course of battle. The French were naturally, very grateful to the Muslim population of their sacrifices during the war. After the war nearly 2 million Algerians has settled in France. Back home in Algeria, the Algerians were clamouring for independence for their homeland. France had lost the War to the Nazi Germans during World War II, and the political fundamentalists seized this opportunity to demand suzerainty. The War of Independence for the Algerians were at a very heavy cost, and nearly I million Algerians died during the struggle for Independence from the French colonization. But in the July1, 1962, the132 year old reign of the French in Algeria ceased and Algeria became free of France domination. Due to economic depravation and poverty and loss of hand holding which resulted in unemployment, many natives crossed the Mediterranean seas to seek fresh lives and better living in France. France is home to nearly 2.5 million Muslims, the largest Muslim population in the world. The European population is just around 0 .5 million and nearly 9.1 million people of Algerian origin are living in Europe. The main types of immigrants are the Arabs and the Berbers who constitute 50 % of the all French Residents of Algeria, and the beurs, are locally known, constitute a major portion of the local population in France. The Algerian immigrants face basically two types of displacement. Firstly, they have been uprooted from their homelands in Algeria and they are now having to adapt to a new society and culture in France. They are the 1st Generation immigrants. Their children are born and brought up in France, and are naturalized citizens of France, and they constitute the second Generation of immigrants. The second generation of immigrants suffer from an identity crisis. They are torn between their original family backgrounds in Algeria and their social standing in France. The beurs, or the Algerian youngsters,as they are called, wish to go back to their motherland but somehow this does not seem to happen. A great cultural boundary seems to be existing between the lives of the 1st Generation Algerian settlers and their children. They really live in the boundaries both in the metaphysical and social sense. For one thing, they are ostracized from the mainstream of French society and secondly, they are not able to return to their native motherland, Algeria, since the conditions there are worse than in France. Every Algerian girl in France dreads to go back to Algeria thinking she would then be married off to some Algerian man there. The beurs are mainly unemployed youth, as a result, they resort to violence and anti-social activities in their ghettos. Some of them lead and active life of crime and are often in trouble with the law makers. Beurs manifest their resentment for the integration/ assimilation in different ways. they would openly conflict with society or they would use the medium of arts music or theatre as tools of expression their resentment towards the society. There are also several aspects to the beurs - perception entailing beurs’ views on French society, beurs’ views on Algerian society and also beurs as immigrants. The second generation of Algerian immigrants always considers themselves, basically, as French citizens and therefore every act of Assimilation is considered to be an act of racialism. They have expressed their resentment towards their perceived discrimination in subtle and sometimes in, violent ways. Due to their propensity for criminal activities, they are considered a bane for French society. And one of the chief law and order problem for the law enforcement agencies. It is often felt that the desire of the Algerian immigrants in France to assimilate and form an integral part of the French social mainstream is often met with a form of discrimination “fueled by nativism and a deep distrust of Islam.” (Stephanie Giry 2006). Because of this they find it difficult to find convenient housing and good jobs. Due to the economic recession which has affected the whole country, and which has challenged the process of reforms for over three decades. Back home in Algeria, the 2nd generation of Algerian Immigrants face resentment and envy because many of the Algerian locals are unable to emigrate and are faced with a lifelong prospect of unemployment due to local conditions and abject poverty and deplorable living conditions. The large scale immigration of Algerian immigrants has caused it to constitute almost a fourth of France’s population. (Stephanie Giry, 2006). Moreover, the Civil War in Algeria rendered nearly 1.5 million Algerians as martyrs and ruined their economy, as a result of which there was no option for the local population to avoid poverty and starvation death, except to emigrate to the more prosperous countries of Europe. Although a lot of Algerians were killed, the French Government transferred the guilt of the war on the poor Algerians – the pieds Noirs. The fallout of the war was the setting up of the Islamic Front of salvation, (IFS) The free movement of people between Algeria and France was only to protect French political interests in Africa, since Algeria is considered the foremost of the African States. The original immigrants from Algeria were known as 1st Generation immigrants and their children and younger relatives brought in subsequently during the relaxation of the immigration rules in the 1960,s were known as the 2nd generation Immigrants. However the educational needs of the 2nd generation immigrants were not met, totally resulting in the fact that only 4% of the children of immigrants go to the local Universities as compared to 25% for the French citizens. The main cause is their economic depravation and lower standards of living as compared with the natural French citizens. It was in the year 1975, that the French Government liberalized the immigration laws and allowed the families of the immigrants to join them in France. The immigrants brought their families and children, and more children were born in France, who were called “jeunes issus de l’immigration” (children of Immigrants) One of the chief reasons for the backwardness of the Algerian was the religion they practiced. The French, by and large, preached secular Christian traditions and the integration of a substantial Muslim population of 4-5 million practicing Muslims was indeed a daunting task. Although the Algerian immigrants practiced more of a culture than a religion, yet, the populist issues raised by the elite community of France along with the contradictory requirements of the economic sector, obstructed the immigrants from becoming a part and parcel of the French mainstream and it was felt that although local Catholics and Jews could become French, the Muslims could not do so. Hence, there was a hint of discriminatory attitude towards the Algerian minority practicing different faith. This high form of discrimination led to protest marches and acts of violence to demand greater equality and active participation for the minority immigrants for their civil rights, including the right to vote and to contest elections. “For Seven Years the dirty war in Algeria has corrupted all the values of freedom and Humanism that your country once proposed to the world.” (Abidor, Mitch. 1961). France which was one time, the capital city for the right to asylum, had now become an asylum of racism and discriminatory attitudes towards oppressed and weaker classes of society. The creation of the National Liberation Front (FLN) appealed to the Algerians to create friendships everywhere and to defend the Algerians who are victims of French discriminatory policies. The demands to the French Government would be in the form of Petitions, hand outs, work slowdowns and demonstrations in order to press forth the rightful demands of the subjugated Immigrants. It also pleaded to the Government to cancel the measures that have hit against the fundamental rights of the Immigrants, the most obnoxious, being the imposition of curfews. It urged the Government to initiate meaningful dialogue with the Provincial Revolutionary Guard (PRG) for finding a peaceful solution relating to the end of conflicts and the ushering in of an era of peace for the people of both classes. There was scarcity everywhere for the immigrants. After the Civil War in Algeria, there was a massive influx of immigrants to France. The National Liberation Front (NLF) was actually waging a war of attrition through the help of armed militants and Housing was a major issue too. After the second World War, there was an acute shortfall of manpower in France due to conscription in Armed Forces. The shortage in unskilled labour was met through massive loads of immigrants from Algeria. Initially, only single room accommodation was provided, and the 1950’s saw high rate of recession due to drop in Oil prices. The French Government was forced to drop its policy of Assimilation to a policy of Control of minorities to avoid further economic debacles. The cheap unskilled labor provided by the Algerians were required for public contracting works, foundry divisions and textile manufacturing, since all these industries were highly labour intensive and required heavy dozes of labour force for their manufacturing operations The Algerians were clamoring for the same rights as the European and other free citizens of France except political rights. Even the French Government was considering negotiations with the NLF (National Liberation Front) for improving the living and other standards of the Algerian immigrants because they had also, to keep in mind, the conditions of the European community in Algeria. However, after Algerian independence, the Muslim fundamentalists had clearly gained control and they tried to redefine the Algerian identity, in line with their goals and objectives. Arabisation had become a major issue and the fundamental factor for the country. They wanted Arabic language and culture to be the numero uno to the total exclusion of all other languages and cultures and wanted Algeria to be an Islamic state. This fundamentalist thinking proved to be the bane of the Algerian people since a section of people did not know Arabic and did not fall in line with the thinking of the fundamentalist organizations who wanted to assume total control of the state for themselves by infringing the rights and liberties of the other communities and sects. Because of this inequality, there was a continuous flow of emigration to larger countries of Europe, including France. Many immigrants left the shore of their native Algeria, crossed the Mediterranean seas, and left what they thought the land of colonization, to reach the land of liberty, fraternity and equality in France in the hope of better future for themselves and their families. Little were they to know or assume, that the calamities which waited for them in Europe would be equal to, if not surpass that they had been experiencing in their own homelands. The civil wars in France had taken heavy tolls of lives and properties and many protestants were killed and their bodies thrown into the river Seine. A lot of atrocities were perpetuated on the demonstrators, who were just expressing their concern for fundamental rights as free citizens of a country. However, despite the violence due to the Civil wars, many immigrants chose to remain, hoping for the end of violence and the dawn of peace and tranquility. But the end to Civil war did not come without a price. It is estimated that nearly a million people were killed by the end of the war which lasted nearly 10 years upto1962, in which year, Algeria received her rightful independence for self governance after more than a century of foreign domination. The main reason for the French to invade Algeria was to exploit its rich reserves of natural resources and the coastline, and also, because of its strategic location in the region, since it was the largest country in the continent. But despite the ravages of several empires, Algeria remained in the forefront of oil production and reserves and is a member of OPEC (Oil Producing and Exporting Countries) and it has rich reserves of gas also. All these natural resources have sustained its economy and it is considered one of the richest countries in the African continent. Although it is beset with major problems, both internally and externally, through Islamic fundamentalists who block its economic growth and globalizations plans and the extensive foreign factors which influence its economy, it has proved, time and again, that it has economic resilience and the strength and character of its leadership to emerge triumphant from crisis, whether brought about from external sources, or from feudal divisions and political machinations within its own country. Against Assimilation Assimilation is not necessarily a desired intention or outcome or objective of immigration nor should be its goal to encourage it. Assimilation has to occur naturally over a period of time. The best test of assimilation would be when a member of an ethnic group marries outside it. North African Muslims would be considered as having been assimilated if more than 50% of their children marry non North African Muslims The major fact remains that “France simply does not have a tradition of absorbing immigrants and so the Muslims are not integrating and will probably never assimilate.” (Immigration, Integration and Assimilation. Newsletter. 2006). France’s economic growth has been on average 1.5% per annum for the past 4 years but in the next few years it is said to be growing at only 1.2% The main reason for this is the high unemployment rate of 10% and this figure touches 22 % in the age group of under 25 years. In the ghettos of France’s suburban population the rate of unemployment runs to nearly 50% of the local population which includes more than 5 million of North African 1st and 2nd Generation immigrants. (Crisis in France. How Welfare State Economics failed a Generation. 2005). There are a lot of factors that contribute to this – racial discrimination, the falling of economic systems and lack of respect for the local minority population by the elite and privileged political systems. If assimilation is to take place the conditions would become even worse. Most of the unemployed youth people live on welfare and do not wish to work since if they work they would be getting lesser pay than what they are presently getting on welfare. Thus it is seen that welfare state actively discourages job creation and encourages all other fallouts of unemployment, including organized and petty crimes, arson, looting, rape and other antisocial activities. As of now, France is home to nearly 4.5 million Muslims, the largest Muslim population in any European state. The total of the its immigrants, both first and second generation account for nearly a fourth of the total population. (Stephanie Giry, 2006). Should assimilation be encouraged further, the rate of unemployment and consequent fallout would be more emphatic and would lead to social infractions. Moreover, the aspect of assimilation in the context of socio-political matters also need to be seen. The North African Algerian immigrants are not known to be passive or dis-organised. There links or sympathies with terrorist groups cannot be annulled. “in the summer of 1995, the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (better known by its French initials, GIA) planted bombs in the Paris subway to protest French support for the military regime in Algiers.” (Giry, Stephanie 2006). Thus, it may also be said that the affairs of a minority cannot hold predominance for state administration and the power for administration comes from the citizens, not from the totality of communities. Therefore, the rights and privileges of citizens could rightly take precedence over communal requisites. Although fundamental rights, like the right of prayer or free speech are guaranteed it should not give way to larger rights which interferes with the rights and privileges of others and should not have undesired effects. VIEWS FOR ASSIMILATION The process of assimilation eradicates cultural differences between societies and paves the way for peaceful co-existence. Social origin is a very important aspect for assimilation and, in France; assimilation was considered an important aspect of French society. The main aspects regarding French society is that it does not favour racial differences of any sort. As a matter of fact, this aspect of French culture has led to the heavy influx of immigrants from all parts of the world. The French stress assimilation as a right step towards integration, which invokes equality, opposition to discrimination, war against inequality, interaction in social and political life and other rights of a free citizen. Through integration, the immigrants would be able to join the national mainstream and contribute towards the economic and social development of their resident country. The French Government has always followed a path of co-operative effort and fraternity with its people and, as a policy, has not maintained any form of racial discrimination. As a direct result of this policy, it had allowed the Algerian immigrant to apply for French citizenship by following the rules and regulations as applicable. The Imperial College was also thrown open to the Algerians as a form of assimilation in order for them to learn French culture and the French language. This by itself shows that the French Government was keen that the immigrants imbibe the French culture and become a vital part and parcel of the French way of living. In France the Church is separated from the State, which means that politics is devoid of religion and there is no political interferences in the affairs of the country, including in schools and courtrooms by the Church. This by itself shows the degree of catholicism and broadmindness practiced by the administrative machinery of the country. Despite several problems, the assimilation of immigrants in he society has been progressive and “Still, French sociologists agree that the integration of Muslims into French society has proceeded fairly well. Most Muslims in France -- half to three-fifths of whom are believed to be French citizens -- have adopted French cultural norms” (Stephanie Giry, 2006) The process of assimilation not only invokes the physical aspects of integrating oneself to the culture and lifestyle of the country of residence. In a larger context, it also involves the unison of two apparently distinct communities into one large one, so that harmony and peaceful co-existence should subsist. The process of assimilation may also entail the abandonment of ties with the previous culture and country, so that the full effects of assimilation are realized. This is easier said than done, especially in a fiercely religion based and ethnic based culture as that practiced by North African Algerian immigrants. Certain aspects, like polygamy, which is widely practiced in their religion are illegal in France. However, despite all these difference, it is believed that the immigrants, by and larege, have integrated into the social fabric of French society “Muslims in France have displayed a remarkable willingness and capacity to assimilate. According to a 1994 study by the historian and anthropologist Emmanuel Todd, in 1990, 20 to 30 percent of women of Algerian descent under the age of 35 living in France had married a French man -- one of the highest rates of intermarriage for Muslims anywhere in Europe.” (Giry, Stephanie, 2006) This above is ample testimony of the fact that French Muslims are as much a part of the social fabric of France as European French. The State, at least on paper, does not make any kind of racial discrimination and this could be the reason why not much statistics about the ethnic communities are available from census reports in France. But, nevertheless the most important aspect to be considered in this context, is the role the assimilated immigrant in the context of the French economic development and the enhanced standard of living of the people. As of now, little research is available regarding the role of the immigrant in national politics, although certain leaders were said to be immigrants. For this to happen, it is necessary to lift the rate of employment and offer greater and more productive work to the immigrants. Schooling and vocational and occupational education should be made free or subsidized in order to ensure a greater level of education and skill sets. As has been mentioned earlier, welfare dole has been the principal cause for lethargy and unwillingness to work. The welfare has to be cut down in order to make substantial inroads into their will for work. Since the welfare itself is given by high taxes on the working and business classes, the cutting down of welfare would also be marked by tax cuts and tax relief for the working class. The educational assimilation should also taken into account the aspects of teaching civics theory, how to produce better and more productive workers and also improve the standard of living of the worker and raising the GDP of the country. The aspect of monolinguism also has to be considered especially in the context of Islam believing in the Arabic language as the mode of communication. Through a process of assimilation, the French allowed the immigrant also to study French language for a better integration with the French people. Basically the Algerian society consisted of the following: 1. Native Algerians settled in their home country, Algeria 2. 1st Algerian immigrants in France mostly now old and not in active occupation 3. Second Generation Algerian Immigrants who considered themselves natural citizens of France and some of them did not subscribe to the concept of assimilating; thinking that since they were already French citizens, the question of further assimilation did not arise. . 1. First Generation Immigrants settled in France. After the World War II, in which France lost the war to Fascist Germany, there was a great diminution in the man power, which necessitated the import of Human Capital in the form of unskilled workers from Algeria for repair and reconstruction work and also to serve in agriculture and public works. The war had almost destroyed the French economy and it needed to be revitalized by supply of cheap but productive labour. During that time, the Algerian immigrants overcame challenging living conditions to contribute to the reconstruction of France’s post war efforts for economic and social recovery. 2. 2nd Generation Immigrants in France; During the 1960’s the French Interior Ministry liberalized the immigration procedures to allow the families of the earlier immigrants to come and settle and France. Thus a large number of wives and children of present immigrants settled in France permanently. In France, a lot of their children were born who could be considered to be natural French citizens. Thus a sizeable population of French population consisted of Muslim immigrants from not only from Algeria but also from neighboring African countries like Morocco .Sudan etc. Although the naturalization and assimilation process was not badly received by the earlier immigrants, the 2nd Generation were skeptical towards it since it involved discarding of their earlier value systems. Moreover, they considered themselves to be more French than Algerian. These beurs expressed their dislike for assimilation in different ways; either by open conflict with the Establishment or more subtle versions through art forms, theatre etc. Their contention was that since they were natural French citizens, the question of separate assimilation and integration process did not arise. Moreover, their pro-Islamic stand and ingrained Islamic conservatism also provided impediment to the process of assimilation. However, it is felt that a majority of them, through the process of higher education and mental enlightenment would, over a period of time, subscribe to the assimilation and integration process. Conclusion This essay has sought to trace the developments leading to the large scale immigration of Algerian work force to France subsequent to the Two Great Wars, World War I and World War II and also how the Civil Wars rendered it necessary for immigration to avoid poverty and starvation in their native lands. There is no doubt that the contribution of Algerian Muslims towards the War efforts, and subsequently in its economic reconstruction and rehabilitation has been commendable. During the World War II, nearly 100,000 Muslims laid down their lives for France and subsequently nearly 2.5 Million work force contribute towards the French economy. Considering the magnitude of the immigrant work force, the process of assimilation would definitely would be a slow and time-consuming process. But the immigrant entry has also cast its shadow on the economy of France, since it had to raise its national income to meet the demands of the immigrant work force and also provide employment opportunities to them, sometimes even at the cost of European workers. However, for the future it has become imminent, to take a tougher stance against immigration, especially illegal immigration to France, which has already made a dent in the French economy. The earlier immigrants were brought to provide cheap labour for reconstruction purposes, but now the question of any repatriation does not arise, since they are better off in France then they would probably be in their native Algeria. Therefore it has become necessary from the French view to put a curb to immigrancy and improve the status of economy by providing gainful employment for the present population of the country. Especially the 2nd generation of immigrants since they form a sizeable portion of the immigrant population today. But nevertheless, the process of assimilation had been very encouraging and beneficial since it has promoted a closer ties between people of vastly different cultures, habits and even religious beliefs. This process had to be continued and consolidated in order to achieve its desired results. “ France still has a long way to go to perfect the assimilation of moderate Muslims, but it has come further away than is generally acknowledged., and recognizing the fact may be the first step towards completing the job” (Giry, Stephanie 2006). Despite the worldwide clamour about the militant nature of the beliefs of immigrants, the rulers of France have made serious attempts through liberal thinking and policies, to induct them into the mainstream of the French society in order to improve their socio-economic conditions and also make them useful and productive citizens of the country. It is believed that with the culmination of integration and assimilation process, over a period of time, the broader aims and objectives of the Government would be realized for the betterment of all concerned- the Government, their employers and the individual immigrants themselves. Only then it could be said that the process has achieved the results it had desired Works Cited Giry, Stephanie. (2006). France and its Muslims. The Politics of Assimilation. Real Clear Politics. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/10/france_and_its_muslims_1.html Crisis in France. How Welfare State Economics failed a Generation. (2005). European Cover Story. The Business Week. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_47/b3960013.htm Immigration, Integration and Assimilation. Newsletter. (2006). The Mackenzie Institute. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/2006/newsletter040106.htm#immigration Mackenzie Abidor, Mitch. (1961). Appeal to the French. Algeria FLN. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.marxists.org/history/algeria/1961/oct-22-1961.htm Read More