French rioters set EU alarm bells ringing

Date: 17/11/05

The riots raging across France come as little surprise to anyone who has lived in Paris or any other major French city over the past decade, but their causes are complex.

The violence was sparked by the deaths of two teenagers, allegedly hiding because of fears of police persecution, and inflamed by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's injudicious comments. Underlying long-term problems have provided the fuel to prolong the riots. Socio-economic exclusion, characterised by systematic discrimination and a dearth of real employment opportunities, has left a large population of angry, frustrated youngsters, many of North and West African origin, who see no way out of the poverty trap.

There is concern that the violence could spill over into other countries in Europe with large, concentrated immigrant populations. While direct spill-over seems unlikely, the violence has prompted a new, wider debate: how to integrate large immigrant populations and their descendants successfully.

Some aspects of the French situation are unique to the Gallic approach, which has been more about corralling the problem than tackling it directly.

Although urban areas all over Europe have zones of socio-economic deprivation, such a high concentration of social stagnation is unusual. There has been a marked reduction in local funding for social projects and an end to local community policing. Youth unemployment in France is high and discrimination exacerbates the situation for those of foreign origin - 40% of those of Moroccan and Algerian descent aged 19-29 are unemployed, compared with 20% of those with French-born parents in the same age group. Research last year revealed that job-applicants with foreign-sounding names were four times less likely to get interviews than those with French names. There is, consequently, no sense that there is a way out through education, hard work and talent.

The French integration model, emphasising equality and citizenship without recognition or accommodation of ethnic diversity, has ended up exacerbating the problem. Although most of the rioters are officially citizens, they feel unable to exercise the rights of citizenship in any material way. It should therefore perhaps come as no surprise that they feel less confined by the obligations of citizenship.

Alhough the causes may be French, the general message of discontent, exclusion and lack of a political voice needs to be heeded across the EU. Europe must also take care not to brand the issue as religious. It is true that many of the French rioters have a Muslim background, but the riots were motivated by socio-economic, not religious, problems.

Linking the violence to Islam could worsen an already unfavourable climate for many Muslims living in Europe. Following the terrorist attacks in Madrid and London, and the murder of Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh, there has been a tendency to equate Islam with fanaticism, leading to a sharp increase in Islamophobia.

The Union of Islamic Organisation in France condemned the violence. But there is concern that Islamic extremists could exploit the conflict, using the situation in France to incite uprisings in their own countries.

Many young Muslims feel emotionally homeless and believe that the state has denied them dignity, which they can find in Islam. This in itself is not a cause for concern - indeed, mosques, Muslim community groups and charities can provide a vital social safety net. But the lack of other community structures creates opportunities for radical Islamists seeking to influence Muslim institutions by, for example, financing mosques and supporting youth groups.

To relieve social frustrations and combat such influences, a number of steps need to be taken. The balance must be redressed by accepting the reality of ethnic difference: for example, through the positive discrimination policy adopted by the Institute for Political Studies in Paris, Sciences Po - ironically similar to those "affirmative action" policies that are under fire in the US - and insurance company Axa's decision to introduce anonymous application forms. Bridges must be built between government and local communities through community policing and capacity building in civil society.

Different European countries have diverse immigration histories and populations, but none can complacently assume it has successfully integrated its foreign populations and eliminated racial discrimination. Learning about integration should be a Europe-wide effort, with governments exchanging ideas and best practice. The current situation in France is a practical demonstration of what can go wrong and should be a wake-up call for governments across Europe.

• Mirjam Dittrich and Elizabeth Collett are policy analysts at the European Policy Centre.

Commentary feature taking a look at recent social unrest in French cities and the lessons to be learnt across the European Union concerning the integration of immigrants and the fight against social exclusion.