This book is an enquiry into the making of a 'country of immigration' and how a demographic statistic can become such a controversial issue that occupies the top of the political agenda.

Angéline Escafré-Dublet starts from the overlooked fact that even though France became a country of immigration as early as the mid-19th century, because of its lagging population growth, it was only in the late-20th century that French people started to think of themselves as living in a country of immigration. The book is about this change in identity and the ways in which the politics of migration - a much broader and globally connected process - came to redefine France in the second half of the 20th century.

A Political History of Immigration in France is chronologically arranged in order to show the various stages the politics of immigration has been through: from a mere economic issue to a defining feature of contemporary politics. It draws on original research in the archives of the French administration, data on the implementation of public policies since the 2000s and oral interviews about the lived experience of immigrants. In so doing, Escafré-Dublet portrays a variety of historical actors, including politicians, administrative officials, social workers, activists, artists and citizens, who contributed to shaping the understanding of immigration issues today.