Immigration: A Balance Between “Cosmopolitan Citizenship” and State Control — The Case of France

This article analyzes the influence of ideology on migration policy. The statist and globalist paradigms directly define the relationship between the state and the individual: the former prioritizes the state, while the latter prioritizes the individual. Examining the historical evolution of France’s migration policy reveals how the transition from a sovereign state model toward European integration — accompanied by a shift in theoretical frameworks — has fundamentally altered the French migration model. In terms of doctrine, there has been a transition from «utilitarian immigration» — where the state approaches immigration based on its own specific needs — to so-called «moral immigration» under which the state is ostensibly bound by moral obligations to host individuals, even when doing so runs counter to its own interests. Against the backdrop of an emerging cult of human rights, this doctrine has given rise to the concept of «cosmo-citizenship,» which serves as a pillar of globalization. This concept obliges states to create conditions for anyone wishing to arrive, while requiring the native-born citizenry to adapt accordingly. Nevertheless, public discontent stemming from uncontrolled immigration has compelled European and national authorities — most notably in France — to tighten legal regulations and place greater emphasis on the challenge of integration, a task that becomes virtually insurmountable in the context of large-scale, low-skilled immigration.