In October and early November, France experienced its worst urban rioting in almost 40 years. The riots in poor suburbs began after the accidental deaths of two youths fleeing police, but grew into nation-wide protests. Thousands of cars were set ablaze in the unrest. The rioters - mainly young immigrants from Northern Africa - complained of high unemployment and exclusion from mainstream French society. Much as Hurricane Katrina did in the U.S., the riots has laid bare the ugly underside of a wealthy nation - violence, unemployment and discrimination. Large parts of the French society are frozen out of the benefits offered by society and discriminated against because of their racial origin. The riots are closely linked with the atmosphere of hopelessness that hangs over the ugly public housing in which the immigrants live. It is clear that France has followed a disastrous policy on social integration with immigrants. Instead of mainstreaming them into French society it has put them into the ghettos of Paris, Marseille and Lyon. The founding myth of the French Republic that promises equality for all is very compelling but it turned into a rather abstract principle in recent years. Reality looks different. Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité do only live on in the French constitution - but not in the everyday live of the citizens of la Grande Nation.
The riots only simmered down after the French government pressed home a pledge of tough action to curb urban unrest invoking a colonial-era law allowing it to declare curfews. The government enforced its 'zero tolerance' policy and permanently stationed squads of riot police in the troubled neighbourhoods. The youngsters living in the ghettos lost their last remaining portions of hope. What can be done to restore hope? How can France and Europe regain its social balance? How should governments, business and citizens deal with globalization? Sending back immigrations and shutting the door on immigration might be one option. Indeed, this option has been loudly proclaimed in France and throughout the whole of Europe, mostly on the far-right but also by the mainstream. However, second generation immigrants can't go back as easily, and halting immigration could lead to a disaster in Europe, which over the coming decades will need a larger workforce to support its aging population. Also, blaming immigration - and the immigrants - is nothing else than the chauvinistic attempt to save the holy European nation state and to shun globalization. Imposing French culture and values might be another option. Still, in the past, immigrants were treated as outsiders, and many of their children have fared little better, despite being born and raised in France. The strict imposition of French culture and the disrespect of local traditions and habits just led to the opposite of the desired outcome - the immigrants developed a strict opposition of everything considered to be 'French'.
What France and other OECD-countries really need are a better education and equal opportunities for young immigrants. What has to be questioned is the effectiveness of the current integration model. Discrimination shall be
immediately ended - with strict principles and fines when occurring. Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité do have to be lived, and not just being lectured about in the history classes at school. France is a country that at the moment does not know how to create a vision for the future. The country is now paying the price for the lack of coherence and funding given to social development policies over the past 20 years. What France needs is a vision of country based on diversity where different people are accepted. Immigrants should not be put into ghettos - but be provided with the opportunities that will make them 'real' citizens. That's my hope, and I wish that Europe's future is based on the hope for openness, justness, and principled commitment to bridge the gap between those living in the ghettos and those living in the palaces.
Frank-Jürgen Richter is President of Horasis, a Geneva-based advisory firm.
www.horasis.org
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