This book investigates how the French Revolution fundamentally altered the legal and social status of foreigners, marking a pivotal shift in the development of modern national identity. Michael Rapport, a specialist in European history, utilizes extensive archival research and legislative records from the 1790s to trace the evolution of French policy. He argues that the transition from initial revolutionary idealism to the exclusionary practices of the Terror provides a critical lens for understanding the birth of modern citizenship and the state's role in defining belonging.

Historians and scholars of the French Revolution frequently cite this work as a definitive study on the legal treatment of non-citizens during the revolutionary decade. Experts highlight the text for its rigorous archival foundation and its ability to connect specific legislative shifts to broader theoretical questions about the nature of the modern nation-state.