Palestinians in France: Integration Versus Community Integration.

Although the era of Palestinian migration to France is relatively recent, and began in the 1970s, Palestinians have significantly integrated into French society. The social, economic, and political situations in their homeland have played an essential role in Palestinian migration from that homeland or, in some cases, from the refugee camps of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Palestinian migrants/refugees have integrated into French society despite their economic classes or categories. As this paper analyses, students and businessmen were the types of Palestinian migrants with the highest level of integration in French society. They are the two main categories making up the Palestinian community in France. Marriage also plays a significant role as a crucial integration mechanism for both women and men. Despite the fact that the French Jacobin system obliges all migrants/refugees to assimilate into French society, this has not affected the understanding of original Palestinian identity. These migrants/refugees still introduce themselves as Palestinians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]