Actes de l'Histoire de l'Immigration-Call for paper Migrants and Institutions

As university professors and researchers (Gerard Noiriel, Ecole normale superieure; Philippe Rygiel, Universite de Paris I; Eric Guichard, Ecole normale superieure; Marie-Claude Blanc-Chaleard, Universite de Paris I; Janine Ponty, Université de Besancon, Honn.; Nicole Fouche, EHESS, Michael G. Esch, Dusseldorf University, Mary Lewis,International Center for Advanced Studies, New York University, Alexis Spirre, Nantes University, Claire Zalc, ENS Paris, Anne Sophie Bruno Ens Paris) specializing in Immigration History we are preparing the first issue of the Actes de l'histoire de l'immigration, an on line academic journal (see URL below).

First Issue Immigrants and Institutions

Goals and objectives
In all societies, immigrants are confronted, in the host country, on the one hand with individuals (personal relations) and ON the other, with institutions (and their representatives) : i.e. schools, the police, religious institutions, unions, political parties, social welfare departments, the army. Based on historiographical studies in France, it is generally agreed that in the past, these organizations have been a strong force in favoring an individual's acculturation and socialization into the host society (or into the dominant culture of the host society. These assertions were not based on empirical grounds. So, today we are posing the following questions : has the immigrant and his/her contact with these institutions really modified cultural and social practices ? what role and effect did such institutions have with relation to integration and inclusion into the host country ? Can it be said that immigration cannot be viewed without considering the role that these institutions played ?

We think that these questions are pertinent even if the answer in France is different from that found in other countries (i. e. United States, Argentina, Canada and European countries). While our ultimate goal is to employ a comparative perspective, we would also welcome national case studies.

We would be honoured to receive proposalS (2000-5000 WORDS), in French, English or German. We would also welcome historiographical studies. Proposals can be mailed to prygiel@ens.fr or Nicole.Fouche@ehess.fr

IF this topic falls outside of your area of expertise, we would appreciate it if you could give us the name of scholars who might be interested in participating in this program.