Policies and Practices in the United States and France: incorporating the Cubans in Miami and the Maghrebis in Marseille

Clara GARCIN

Master's thesis

Public policies in the United States & France: integrating Hispanics in Miami & Maghrebis in Marseille

Abstract:

Why has the assimilation of Maghrebis and Cubans been so contentious in France and the United States? How have policy-makers and local institutions treated the assimilation of those two migrant groups? This study compares policies and practices of two countries in terms of assimilation and more specifically in the educational environment. As such, it contributes to the comparative studies done on immigration and integration policies. Through an analysis of official government documents of the second half of the twentieth century, the present thesis examines and compares how policy-makers and institutions, through language and bilingual programs, dealt with the assimilation of the Maghrebis and the Cubans. The findings of the thesis specify that France and the United States have different approaches to assimilation but that they have set up programs that look at facilitating the host-country-language acquisition in order. I conclude that the study finds out that the national and local level complement each other as a way to reinforce the assimilation of both migrant groups.

Abstract:

Why has the assimilation of Maghrebis and Cubans been so contentious in France and the United States? How have policy-makers and local institutions treated the assimilation of those two migrant groups? This study compares policies and practices of two countries in terms of assimilation and more specifically in the educational environment. As such, it contributes to the comparative studies done on immigration and integration policies. Through an analysis of official government documents of the second half of the twentieth century, the present thesis examines and compares how policy-makers and institutions, through language and bilingual programs, dealt with the assimilation of the Maghrebis and the Cubans. The findings of the thesis specify that France and the United States have different approaches to assimilation but that they have set up programs that look at facilitating the host-country-language acquisition in order. I conclude that the study finds out that the national and local level complement each other as a way to reinforce the assimilation of both migrant groups.

Keywords

France, United States, Assimilation, National Policies, Local Practices, Bilingual Education

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 6. 12. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mario Polo Rodríguez, Ph.D.

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY OLOMOUC

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Humanities / Euroculture