I have been away from the blog for a while, the main reason is that I am working to two book chapters and revising some articles which have a similar deadline, this leaves no wish for further typing on my computer.

Obviously, I have been following the riots in France and the different reactions and interpretations given by the press, politicians and experts.

Here I copy the analysis of Prof. Danièle Joly, who was my PhD supervisor. She is the director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick and is an expert on the subject. This is what she wrote for the Warwick University Media Log:

Non scrivo sul blog da qualche giorno. Sto lavorando a due capitoli per due testi diversi e sto rivedendo alcuni articoli che hanno una scadenza molto ravvicinata e questo lascia poca voglia di scrivere ulteriormente al computer.

Chiaramente ho seguito i fatti riguardanti l’esplosione di violenza nelle periferie di alcune città francesi, soffermandomi su alcune reazioni ed interpretazioni della stampa, dei politici e di alcuni esperti.
Qui vi rimando alla breve ed efficace analisi della Prof.ssa Daniele Joly, mia relatrice durante il dottorato di ricerca, che conosce il problema molto a fondo.
Lei dirige attualmente il CRER, Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations presso l’ Università di Warwick. Qui leggete le dichiarazioni da lei rilasciate al Warwick University Media Log:

Rioting in France

Two decades after the riots which set fire to the main British cities and shook the British Establishment, France is confronted with a similar scenario, apparently much to the surprise of media and politicians. In reality, this conflagration was waiting to happen.

The situation of ethnic minority youth in disadvantaged suburbs displayed all the ingredients necessary for a violent upsurge; in those suburbs, French society was sitting on a barrel of powder and a single spark triggered off the explosion.

The youth of immigrant origin involved in the disturbances suffer from a double jeopardy. All the indices of poverty and deprivation are present while unemployment and school underachievement condemn them to a bleak future. Moreover, the social disadvantage they endure is further compounded by racial disadvantage, racism and discrimination. The promises of the Republican contract were never delivered for their benefit; on the contrary, the colour blindness of French policies and the dearth of effective tools to identify and challenge rampant discrimination have meant that the liberty, fraternity and equality they were urged to aspire to, remained unattainable. Stigmatisation and the non-recognition of their cultural specificity added insult to injury, resulting into the denial of justice and dignity. The violence expressed is commensurate with the frustration caused by thwarted expectations. The law and order approach pursued by the government could only enflame the situation further, all the more as perceptions of police racism prevail among those youths. The lack of hope, meaning and positive projects has led a demoralised and embittered population, deprived of a stake in society to rampage through French cities. The current discourse of government ministers, laden with threats of a police crackdown is a testimony of their failure to grasp the problems involved or to offer any constructive proposal.

Daniele Joly
Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations
University of Warwick

6–11-2005