The revival of policies aimed at social integration

• Jeannette BOUGRAB
  Senior lecturer, Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University; member, High Council for Integration (Haut Conseil à l'Intégration)
  
• Daniel LAURENT
  Scientific advisor to Claude Bébéar (AXA); professor, University of Marne la Vallée
  
• Eugène-Henri MORÉ
  Deputy mayor, La Courneuve; in charge of youth, sport, human resources and associations
  
• Dominique SOPO
  President, SOS Racisme
  

Summary

With the emergence of the so-called 'welcome and integration contract', (contrat d'accueil et d'intégration) which proposes linguistic training and information on individual rights to newly arrived immigrants, the French State is renewing its concept of integration. This idea can no longer be regarded as an impossible cultural assimilation left over from the colonial era, but is based on the construction of a common platform of Republican values. At La Courneuve, where eighty different nationalities live together, all new inhabitants, whether they are French or not, are welcomed by the municipality and are informed about facilities and municipal services. Communitarist associations which promote segregation are refused grants and premises. However, efforts to apply the same rules for everyone still come up against discrimination, particularly in the work place which ought to be a key place for integration. The role of civil society, whether in companies or in associations, is a crucial factor in this respect.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Élisabeth BOURGUINAT.

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