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.).