Disrespect and Misrecognition as a Reason for Lack of Commitment to the Political Community: The Case of Young French Citizens of Immigrant Origin

This chapter substantiates the theoretical claims with a concrete example. Here the disrespect and misrecognition faced by French citizens of immigrant origin are discussed to explain why these citizens do not feel commitment to France and French values. Mainly structural predispositions—within the socioeconomic and psychocultural spheres—make it impossible for French citizens of immigrant origin to become fully-fledged French citizens. It is suggested that for currently misrecognized citizens to feel a commitment to and value the political community of which they are members, they must be fully respected not only at the essentially political, but also at the structural level. This is the only way they can build a relationship with their fellow citizens.