Упрощенная HTML-версия
http://interaffairs.ru
Author : V. Anisimova
Attaché, Third CIS Countries Department of CIS Countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation
Russia and France face similar tasks in regulating the
flows of migration. The foremost tasks are to stem the
decline in population and attract the necessary labor re-
sources.
A special law regulating immigration was passed in 1945.
It contains nine chapters and 40 articles defining the
processes of entry into and subsequent stay in the coun-
try. There are more than 40 amendments to this law.
In order to maintain its population size, Russia needs to
let in at least 700,000 immigrants annually; in order to maintain its number of working-age popu-
lation, it needs to attract at least one million of them every year.
In the middle of 2000s, developments in France showed that liberal naturalization aimed at unre-
stricted multiculturalism did not produce due effect. Under the pressure of problems related to im-
migrants and of demands of the indigenous population, the French government opted for a forceful
assimilation policy assigning primary importance to social stability and unity of society based on
the observance of legislative as well as cultural and ethical norms which are uniform for the given
multiethnic population of the country.
We will not go into detail of Russia's migration policy and legislation. Let us instead try to identify
common features of the migration situation in Russia and France. There are of course things specific
to each country and they cannot be ignored.
Nowadays, the ethnic composition of migrants entering Russia has changed dramatically. Most of
them are members of titular nationalities of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. From the socioeco-
nomic and cultural-religious points of view, this category is fairly comparable with French immi-
grants from North Africa. The Russian Federation migration policy is now focused on demographic
aspects and employment primarily of low-paid workers (same as in France).
Analyzing similar problems in their own country the French authorities have opted, in the context
of their current "forceful assimilation" framework, for a tactic of selecting immigrants with appro-
priate education and occupational skills. This approach can work only in the conditions of careful
government regulation of demographic processes, supervision over demand for manpower in the
economy and effective struggle against illegal immigration.
Selection of migrants in Russia is hindered by its open borders with many former Soviet republics
and its liberal migration legislation.
Quite obviously, all states, during certain periods in history, address migration processes in their dis-
tinctive ways depending on specific combinations of factors ranging from those of geography to
ethnicity, culture and religion.
Migration Experience in France and Russian Reality