ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses in greater detail the various debates that have taken place over immigrants rights, and will argue that the increasing stratification of rights can be seen as a source of insecurity for many immigrants. One of the major debates that have taken place over immigrant’s political participation and representation has been that over whether or not immigrants should be granted the right to vote in local elections. The issue of immigrant’s right to vote in local elections was first raised in the mid-1970s by pressure groups and associations such as the FASTI and the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme. The mobilisation around the exclusion of women from political representation has not, however stimulated a more general debate about the exclusion of immigrants and ethnic minorities. As Gastaut argues, Confounding nationality and citizenship was an easy way to take refage behind a conservative principle in order to refuse the idea of a right to vote for foreigners.
