The revival of nationalism in Europe and the immigration challenges in France

Abstract

AbstractThe European continent has been facing a significant challenge causing social, economic and political inequality among not only the countries, regions and cities but also the community members. What would be problematic within this broad context is to formulate a European immigration policy irrespective of framing a European immigration policy. Some primary issues, such as economic and employment integration, public goods sharing, ethnic and cultural diversity, social and political participation should be discussed in terms of the EU policy goals. Having applied the nationalism theory, this research scrutinizes nationalism and immigration influx in France. The study analysed that the French policy‐making process and the political rhetoric that influenced the immigration flow in France; those policies did not integrate the immigrants or stabilize France's situation. This analysis illustrates that France is becoming one of the toughest countries in Western Europe concerning its immigration laws and measures, which trigger the nationalistic sentiments. Nationalism, nevertheless, and its naturally opposing organization can also mutually boost anxieties and disputes in Europe, especially in France. The paper concludes that there is a paradigm shift in understanding immigration as a concept; throughout the twentieth century, it was considered a positive factor that proves France's attractiveness, which altered the perception of nation and the citizenship.