Introduction
In the article, the author is trying to highlight the issue of integration in Europe. This is in terms of the religious groups and the discrimination they face in European countries. The topic is important as it shows the underlying issues that are hindering integration in Europe. The controversy pertains to the government efforts to bring integration, as well as social groups who fight for the rights of minorities.
Thesis
The author explores the integration of Muslims in France. This is by looking at the factors that have facilitated, as well as hindered Muslim integration in France. The author has been able to discuss the key issues in the integration of French Muslims.
Analysis
In order to address the thesis, the author puts across a number of arguments. He starts by looking at the politics of assimilation. Here, the author says that the past few years have seen events in European countries that bring into question the issue of failed immigration and integration policies. These events have been in the form of murders, riots, as well as protests. The most affected country is France with approximately 4 to 5 million Muslims.
The French Muslim problem has been compounded by its history, philosophy, and contemporary issues, leading to a change in the immigration policy, as well as worries about Islam. On the issue of the French exception, the author looks at the scale of immigration in France. Currently, immigrants account for almost a quarter of France’s total population. Despite this, trust in public institutions and centralization has ensured that France maintains its homogeneity. The existing laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality, religion or race.
The 1980s saw the emergence of movements that were against the immigration issue in France. For instance, the National Front saw Arabs as shifty, recalcitrant and lazy people. They advocated for limiting the rate at which foreigners were getting French citizenship. This led to strikes by Muslim workers in the mid-1980s leading to the legalization of the hijab and Muslim headscarves in school.
Assimilation in France has been hampered by the government’s ban on official collection of data on religion and ethnicity. Despite this, Muslims in France have demonstrated a capacity to assimilate. A number of studies have been undertaken on the issue of Muslims in France. A typical example is the high number of Algerian women married to French men, as per a study by Emmanuel Todd (1990). Furthermore, a study by Brouard and Tiberji (2005) showed that the decision-making of Muslims is informed by religion. Moreover, it is said that Muslims do not attend religious services frequently as people from other religions. On the other hand, a poll taken in 2004 showed that 71% of Muslims felt the headscarf issue was getting too much attention.
Another topic addressed by the author is the wages of fear. The author states that discrimination in terms of employment is high in France. For instance, unemployment is high among French citizens of Moroccan and Algerian descent. About 30% are said to be unemployed. On the issue of the Muslim vote, the author looks at how Muslims in France vote. Muslims in France vote as other citizens, with no religious alignment. According to Ternisien (2004), Muslims do not vote on the basis of their ethnicity or religion. A CSA poll indicated that Muslims in France voted to oppose the EU constitution.
Furthermore, studies indicate that there is a feeling among all French people for more Muslims’ representation in parliament. A CEVIPOF survey showed that French people feel more has to be done to address inequalities. This is through the incorporation of French Muslims into national life.
Summarize
Despite France experiencing assimilation issues, most sociologists think that French Muslim integration has been undertaken in a fair manner. However, most of the Muslims in France have adopted the French culture. For instance, they have endorsed the republican values and take part in elections. On the contrary, assimilation has been hampered by discrimination which is fueled by nativism.
The immigration issue has been on the increase in France. The government has reacted by reducing the influence of the church in hospitals, courthouses and schools. There was also the separation of the church from the state. Moreover, the privatization of religion guaranteed freedom of worship in France. Tensions between Muslim immigrants and the French-led to the formation of movements. The French government intervened to assist Muslims by creating a body that was mandated to manage Muslim affairs. These were seen as sincere government efforts. Social problems have been on the increase in France; largely attributed to the economic difficulties faced by the country.
In France, there is no concept of the Muslim vote. However, Muslims favor national elections that EU elections. French unity has been threatened with the emergence of secular groups that are against discrimination. Government intervention has been through designing initiatives that address these inequalities. These efforts resulted in the formation of an agency in 2005 to fight against biases. Private initiatives have also been instituted in different sectors of the economy including the media to fight discrimination.
Works Cited
Giry, Stéphanie. “France and Its Muslims.” Foreign Affairs, vol. 85, no. 5, 2006, p. 87. Crossref. Web.