Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues that on the contrary, repressive immigration policies together with the emphasis on Republican integration have increased the vulnerability of many categories of migrants within France. It analyses the way in which immigration and asylum policies and policies for the integration of populations of immigrant origin have developed in France in recent years. The book considers the framework within which immigration and asylum policies have been developed. It examines more general issues concerning the extent of immigrants' rights and the boundaries of citizenship. The book also examines conceptions of immigration and citizenship in France, pointing to the development of the idea of immigration as a threat to national identity, and investigating the continuing debate over the assimilation or integration of populations of immigrant origin. It explores the context of European integration and the development of a borderless Europe.