History 362: Passions of the French:
Citizenship, Immigration and Race in France
since 1815

Monday 5:30 – 8:15pm
BEH 123

Gregory S. Brown

  This course explores French politics, society and culture from the fall of Napoleon to the present. This semester, the course will focus on a series of specific issues in contemporary French history – immigration, race and citizenship. As in the United States , the culture and laws of France with respect to immigration, race and citizenship have changed considerably over the last 200 years, and this iss= ue is among the most important and controversial in contemporary France . Issues to be discussed will include French colonial history and the history of immigration and citizenship law in France since 1815, the meaning of race in French culture and French law, the socio-economic and cultural causes and consequences of immigration in contemporary France, and the recent debates over immigration including the creation of a new “Ministry of Immigration and National Identity; and a new National Museum of Immigration in France.  

Required readings (available for purchase at UNLV Bookstore)  

Schedule of Lectures and Reading Assignments

 

Monday January 28: Introduction

 

Monday February 4: Overview of Modern French Political History since 1789

 

Monday February 11: Ideals of the French Republic : Citizen and Nation, laicité

Amselle, 1 – 7

Begag, 1 - 33

Patrick Weil, “Lifting the Veil” [copypack]

BownRemembering Laicité 

 

Monday February 18: President’s Day Recess, No Class

 

Monday February 25: Enlightenment Ideals of “Race”

Amselle, 8 – 20

Peabody , 11 - 41

 

Monday March 3: Revolutionary Ideals of Citizenship, Race and National Identity

Peabody , 73 – 107

 

Monday March 10: 19th-Century French colonialism and Ideals of French Culture

Amselle, 32 - 76

Peabody , 108 - 130

 

Monday March = 17: Spring Break, No Class

 

Monday March = 24: Racial Theory in the French Empire

Amselle, 77 – 99

Peabody , 187 – 236; 259 – 280

 

Monday March = 31: Midterm review; essay due; no additional reading

 

Monday April = 7: Religious Identity and Toleration in French Political Culture

Patrick Weil, “The history and memory of discrimination in the domain of French nationality” [PDF]

 

Monday April = 14: Ideals of Race in 19th-Century French Popular Culture

Peabody , 131 – 185, 285 - 337

 

Monday April = 21: Immigration, Citizenship and Racial Politics in Post-War France

Peabody , 228 – 370

Heraud, “The National History Museum: Site of Transmission and Public Education” [PDF]

 

Monday April = 28: Multi-Culturalism in Contemporary France

Amselle, 100 – 121

Begag, 55 - 128

 

Monday May 5: Final Review and Wrap-Up