The use of this capital led to the construction of railways, communications, new ports, metallurgical and other enterprises there. As Expert writes, there is no doubt that France, albeit on a modest scale, also contributed to introducing the inhabitants of its colonies to the values of Western civilization.
• For many countries that have embarked on radical reforms, priority issues are the construction of roads and bridges and the development of transport hubs. After all, without developed and reliable transport arteries, a state with a favorable transit location loses hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Therefore, it is not surprising that road builders have been one of the most sought-after professions in recent decades.
In the 1950s, the peoples of the countries that were part of the French colonial empire began a struggle for independence, the tragic finale of which was the Algerian War of 1954-1962. In 1960-1962, virtually all French colonies gained independence. Thus ended the long and largely confrontational period of France's relations with the Muslim world.
Subsequently, the strategy of these relations was determined by other factors. France was interested in maintaining its influence over Muslim countries, preserving peace and stability on its southern borders, and sought to prevent existing conflicts there from turning into open war. In addition, by developing cooperative relations with these countries, it ensured the supply of necessary raw materials.
Mediterranean Passions
France pays serious attention to the Middle East region and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its foreign policy in this direction was traditionally pro-Arab, which caused great irritation for the Israeli leadership. France advocates for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Perhaps the only major Muslim country in the Mediterranean with which France has developed difficult relations is Turkey. For many years, the French have been blocking Turkey's admission to the European Union, citing its violations of democratic norms and human rights.
Paris has a particular interest in developing relations with the Muslim countries of North Africa - Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. It is not so much about economics as about France's security, especially given the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in this region, particularly in Algeria. Seeking to promote the development of the Maghreb countries, France involves the European Union in this process. In 1995, jointly with Spain and Italy, France initiated the convening of the Conference of Mediterranean Countries, launching the so-called Barcelona Process, aimed at creating a 'space of solidarity' between them. As part of the development of this process, last summer France proposed a new project — the creation of the Mediterranean Union (MU) in addition to the European Union. Its author was the current French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who then served as Minister of the Interior. According to Sarkozy, the EU and the MU will later be able to create common institutions. The main goals of the Mediterranean Union should be: economic and trade development, promotion of fundamental values of the rule of law, environmental protection, and a coordinated immigration policy. Sarkozy believes the Mediterranean Union could also be an alternative to Turkey's entry into the EU. At the EU summit in March 2008, the French project was approved, and its official creation was scheduled for July.
Others
France earlier than other European states felt the difficulties of direct contact with people representing a different civilization. Immigration to France from its colonies began as early as the 19th century. Continuing in the subsequent period, it became especially noticeable after World War II. Since then, its scale has been continuously increasing. Officially, the number of immigrants in the country is about 5 million people. However, according to some estimates, there are now more than 6 million immigrants in France, accounting for 10-12% of its population. And this is very noticeable, since in the vast majority of cases migrants live compactly on the outskirts of large cities — Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Rouen. Only 3% of immigrants are in rural areas. And although the law sets a quota for admitting only 25,000 immigrants, their number is continuously growing, especially due to arriving family members and high birth rates in Muslim families.
In most cases, a Muslim immigrant is a person without education or profession, with poor knowledge of French. That is why he occupies the lowest rung on the social ladder, doing work that the French refuse. Cut off from his homeland, he feels insecure in an unfamiliar and often hostile world. As a result, he instinctively seeks support from his fellow tribesmen, closing himself off within his community and remaining faithful to the customs of his people, which do not always correspond to the principles on which French society is based. This concerns, in particular, the status of Muslim women, whose activities are limited by the laws of Islam to the family sphere and which prescribe them to wear the hijab or a Muslim headscarf tied in a special way.
Poverty and a higher unemployment rate among immigrants compared to native French (especially among youth) breed hostility toward the host society and contribute to the spread of crime and drug addiction among them. Often even French police officers are afraid to appear in immigrant neighborhoods. The situation in Muslim neighborhoods is explosive, as evidenced by the events of 2005, when the death of two Arab teenagers who hid from police in a transformer box and were burned alive there led to a full-scale riot by Muslim youth. As a result, nearly 10,000 cars were burned, more than 200 school buildings and more than 200 government buildings were damaged.
When an Arab will not love a non-Frenchman
In the last two decades, Islam has become more active in France. Today it is the second religion in the country. In major French cities, there are five cathedral mosques and more than 1,500 ordinary mosques and prayer houses. Numerous Islamic organizations are being created that help strengthen the community solidarity of Muslim immigrants and attract young people into their ranks. These include the Federation of the Muslim Institute of the Great Mosque of Paris, the Union of Islamic Organizations of France, which maintains ties with 250 Muslim associations in the country, the Tabligh movement, Young Muslims of France, and many others. Some of these organizations are funded from abroad and are linked to foreign Islamist centers, including radical ones.
Seeking to initiate a tolerant attitude of French society toward certain norms of Islam, the Union of Muslim Organizations once brought high-profile 'headscarf cases.' French law prohibits the wearing of any religious symbols in secondary schools, whether a Muslim headscarf, a Jewish kippah, or a large Christian cross. Therefore, there were several cases where Muslim girls who came to school wearing such headscarves were expelled. These cases sparked heated debates in France, demonstrating a serious clash between republican principles and the interests of the Muslim community.
It should be admitted that immigrants have reason to feel hostile toward French society, because they are made to understand at every turn that they are outsiders. France has a problem of everyday racism. At one time, the famous French comedian of Italian origin, Coluche, said: 'A Frenchman is a foreigner who does not like foreigners.' Cases of discrimination against immigrants occur at every step. They can be denied a job, refused entry to a café or discotheque, based on ethnicity. In France, there is a political party, the National Front, which advocates either full assimilation or expulsion of immigrants from the country, and its leader Jean-Marie Le Pen even made it to the second round of the presidential elections in 2002, shocking not only the French but also Europeans.
Ten departments for one asphalt paver
However, French authorities understand that the country cannot do without immigrant labor. Therefore, having abandoned assimilation, they strive for the gradual integration of migrants into French society. Immigrants enjoy the same civil, social, and economic rights as French citizens. French language courses, schools with special educational programs, etc., are created for them. These issues are dealt with by a special department of the Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, the Social Assistance Fund for Foreign Workers, the Social Action Fund, the International Migration Office, and other organizations. The French government is implementing a whole range of measures aimed at creating a 'French model of integration.' This task is entrusted to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration and the High Council for Integration under the French government.
Despite the existing difficulties, it cannot be said that the integration policy of the French authorities toward immigrants is unsuccessful. The isolation of the Muslim community is gradually being overcome. Today, immigrants are not only unskilled workers but also high-ranking officials, journalists, scientists, businessmen, writers, artists, musicians, and athletes. Among them are Prefect Begag, actress Adjani, footballer Zidane, and many others. A new phenomenon in French culture is the distinctive literature of immigrants and raï music. However, history shows that the process of interaction between civilizations will require much more time and effort from both sides.