SELCS

France: Culture and Society. How to be French? Citizenship and nationhood in France.

Course code: FREN2108.
Course unit value: 0.5.

This option discusses the question of citizenship in multicultural France. It tackles the issues of immigration, nationality and citizenship in France, and looks at the French philosophy of integration through the study of the French republican tradition. Other topics on the course include the relationship between laïcité, the French politicised conception of secularism, and religion. The option concentrates on the legal, philosophical and political components of French citizenship and overall attempts to answer the following question: how to be French?

The option combines 10 lectures and 10 seminar classes. It explores theoretical, historical and sociological aspects of the question; old and recent debates which revolve around the issue of French citizenship.

Assessment:

  • One practice essay (1,500 words) to be handed at the end of term 1.
  • One unseen two-hour written examination (100%).

Students will make one oral presentation at the beginning of a seminar class.

Tutor: Prof P. Marlière.

Preparatory reading and set texts:

All set texts and reading material (bibliography, practice essay questions, etc.) will be posted on Moodle by the beginning of Term 1.

Background reading:

  • J. Baubérot (ed.), Religions et laïcité dans l'Europe des douze, Paris, Syros, 1994.
  • R. Brubaker, Citizenship in France and Germany, Cambridge, Harvard UP, 1992.
  • R. Castel, La Discrimination négative. Citoyens ou indigènes?, Paris, Seuil (‘La République des idées’), 2007.
  • D. & E. Fassin (ed.), De la question sociale à la question raciale. Représenter la société française, Paris, La Découverte, 2006.
  • M. Feldblum, Reconstructing Citizenship. The Politics of Nationality, Reform and Immigration in Contemporary France, New York, New York State University, 1999.
  • A. Hargreaves, Multi-Ethnic France. Immigration, Politics, Culture and Society, London, Routledge, 2007 (2nd ed.).
  • M. Silverman, Deconstructing the Nation: Immigration, Racism, and Citizenship in Modern France, London, Routledge, 1992.
  • P. Weil, Qu’est-ce qu’un Français? Histoire de la nationalité française depuis la Révolution, Paris, Grasset, 2003.