France, like many other European countries, has undergone profound demographic changes since WWII. These changes have altered the image France has of itself, raising questions about how the values of the Republic are to be upheld and how France defines itself as a nation.

This course is designed for students who may not be familiar with the French Republic and how it emerged after the Revolution. The Republic and its laws will be examined from a historical point of view and the importance of certain principles in today’s society, such as secularism, will be explained. The history of immigration will be studied in the context of colonialism, but also in relation to France’s geographical location within Europe and its industrial history. Grenoble’s demographic evolution will be taken as an example to illustrate how different waves of population have influenced the city’s development.

The contemporary reality of multiculturalism and integration, and the tensions within French society today, will be examined through a variety of media : video (fiction and non-fiction), audio, newspaper and academic articles.